Public invited to speak out
Hearing will address illegal immigration
By Greg Pearson STAFF WRITER

Immigrants who live in mobile home parks along Jefferson Davis Highway may have to find other places to reside if the board of supervisors passes a new ordinance.

County residents are invited to voice their opinions on recommendations to curtail the number of illegal immigrants in Chesterfield during a public hearing on Nov. 14. Those recommendations include limiting the number of unrelated people who can live in a singlefamily home, requiring all companies with a county business license to certify that they don't employ illegal immigrants, and developing an auditing process for subcontractors that do business with the county.

According to a nine-page report released by the county last August, illegal immigration cost the county $2.1 million in direct and indirect expenses in 2006. The report also included six options to reduce those costs.

That figure, however, is probably much higher because that it did not include Chesterfield schools, parks, recreation and libraries that aren't able to estimate the expense of services for illegal immigrants.

Of the six recommendations in the report to lower the financial impact, three of those recommendations - all of which involve coordinating and cooperating with state and federal officials - are already being done. (The full report is available at www.chesterfieldobserver.com by clicking on "Special" on the homepage.)

Another option, strict enforcement of a zoning ordinance restricting occupancy in a single-family house to be occupied by no more than four unrelated persons, is scheduled for a separate public hearing on Nov. 28. That ordinance would increase the fines for the misdemeanor offense to a maximum of $2,000 initially and up to $2,500 for additional violations.

Board Chairman Kelly Miller has singlehandedly pressed the illegal immigration issue. In addition to the new occupancy ordinance, Miller wants a contract certification clause for companies that have a business license in Chesterfield, certifying the companies do not employ illegal immigrants. That action would require approval from the General Assembly. Miller also wants an "audit provision," meaning hiring a person at an estimated $75,000 annually to audit subcontractors. County staff estimates auditing could increase construction costs by as much as 12 percent per project.

The county attorney's office has determined that Chesterfield already has the authority "to have landlords certify that they do not rent to illegal immigrants…The staff has determined [this provision] can be addressed through existing authority under the building code to enforce square footage per person requirements." Currently, for example, the building code limits a three-bedroom house with 1,200 square feet to five occupants.

Miller and other board members have expressed frustration with state and federal officials whom they believe are failing to enforce the law, requiring local governments like Chesterfield to bear the cost of those in the country illegally. Several Virginia counties are also pursuing the issue, which is expected to become more prominent this January when the General Assembly reconvenes.

Miller has also recommended making English the official language of the county, though the impact of that is symbolic.

He also wants more pressure put on state legislators to solve the problem or give more authority to local law enforcement. Chesterfield police do not have the legal authority "to arrest individuals based solely on their immigration status." With review by the county attorney's office, the report cautions against further police involvement because of a "potential litigation risk from accusations of police bias and racial or ethnic profiling."

The sheriff's department turns over 6-10 inmates each month to federal immigration officials, but county police are not authorized to make arrests on persons they think might be here illegally.

Following the public hearing on Nov. 14, the board could take action on the staff's recommendations and Miller's proposals.