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Kilgore endorses police
enforcement of immigration laws


Isabel M. Estrada Portales
Washington's Voz
08/12/2005

Virginia Republican gubernatorial hopeful Jerry W. Kilgore endorsed this week the use of police to enforce immigration laws, and expressed his opposition to day laborer centers in Northern Virginia.

His proposal would grant local police the authority to question people's immigration status when they are arrested even for minor crimes, and to detain those who are undocumented. Delegate Dave Albo, Republican for Springfield, VA, will introduce this legislation in the next session of the General Assembly.

But local law enforcement officials expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of this proposal, and said that it could do more harm than good by upsetting the already distrusting relationship between immigrants and police.

Opponents also allege these measures may give the impression of solving the problem of undocumented immigration, but ignore the essential underlying problem of a broken immigration system that makes it impossible for many immigrants to come legally to fill needed jobs or reunite with family.

“Proposals like the one being discussed in Virginia will not fix the problem and will actually make it much worse,” said Lynn Tramonte de la Barrera from the National Immigration Forum.

“When immigrants hear that police are de facto immigration agents, they become less likely to report crimes and information that will be useful to law enforcement. Such policies make our entire community less safe, and give impunity to criminals to prey on our immigrant neighbors.”

Kilgore's legislation would not mandate the enforcement of immigration laws by local police, but will give them the authority to do it.

“We would hope they would avail themselves of the opportunity,” said Tim Murtaugh, Kilgore's spokesperson to Washington Examiner. “What part of 'illegal' don't people understand?” he said.

Democratic candidate for Governor Tim Kaine has said that the job of enforcing immigration laws is currently the responsibility of the federal government.

“Lt. Governor Kaine believes that the men and women who work in local law enforcement should not be taken away from their important work to do the federal government's job for them,” said Delacey Skinner, press secretary of Tim Kaine for Governor.

Kilgore's camp released a statement this Monday opposing the day laborer centers in Northern Virginia, which, they say, would attract undocumented immigrants and encourage further evasion of federal and state laws.

“Legal immigration made this country what it is today,” Kilgore said. “We honor legal immigrants when we ensure that our laws are followed. I don't think it is too much to ask that people obey the laws of our society before they take advantage of what our society has to offer. To reward illegal behavior is to encourage that behavior and it demeans those who have followed the rules to come to America legally.”

Kilgore said he would support the proposals if guarantees could be installed at the centers to ensure that illegal immigrants wouldn't have access, but that screening immigrants based on legal status is not in the plans so far.

Kaine's campaign said the Lt. Governor supports the right of local governments to make their own decision about funding day laborer centers. “There are already a number of these centers around the state, and they serve Virginia workers who are not undocumented immigrants, as well as those businesses that are dependent on their labor,” said Skinner.

“Jerry Kilgore's proposal is political grandstanding, designed to divide people, and would penalize the businesses dependent on these centers for the sake of politics.”