Group names Letiecq as ‘nativist’

The Southern Poverty Law Center bestowed quite an honor on Manassas resident Greg Letiecq on Monday.

At least that's the way the president of the anti-illegal immigration grass roots group Help Save Manassas took it. The law center named Letiecq one of the top 20 "nativists," a term that describes influential "anti-immigrant leaders" across the country.

On his blog bvbl.net, Letiecq wrote, "If the SPLC considers me one of the key players in the debate, I'm more than happy to accept this honor. I am absolutely thrilled, and want to extend my heartfelt appreciation to the SPLC for recognizing me personally as one of the most effective political opponents in the national debate on immigration policy that they are faced with."

The law center's description of nativists was less than flattering, some of which it claims are involved with what the organization considers hate groups. While Help Save Manassas was not listed as one of 888 hate groups around the nation, the law center described Letiecq and the other nativists in this manner: "They are media savvy and exploit any medium they can to deliver their message of raging intolerance."

Letiecq played down his influence on the issue but spoke out against what he thinks is an inaccurate representation of both himself and Help Save Manassas by the law center.

"I think the SPLC is trying to shut down the debate here by trashing anyone who speaks out about illegal aliens as 'nativists,' " Letiecq wrote in an e-mail Monday. "They can't argue that it's a good thing to have foreign nationals violate our immigration laws, so instead they want to smear anyone who holds an opposing viewpoint as a racist and member of a 'hate group.' "

Prince William County Board of Supervisors chairman Corey A. Stewart, R-at large, said he was not surprised with the law center's labeling of Letiecq and said his opinion of the group has steadily declined in the last few years.

"I think it's unfair," Stewart said. "I know him, I know that he's not a racist or bigot, and if I thought so, I would have nothing to do with him."

Help Save Manassas member and Manassas city councilman Marc Aveni applauded Letiecq for his efforts in the anti-illegal immigration debate. He said that Letiecq's blog—which was quoted by the law center—should be treated as a separate item from the organization which calls itself a "grassroots organization dedicated to helping preserve our communities and protect them from the effects related to the presence of illegal aliens in our community."

"Him being able to bring the issue out front and get ...  citizens to sign up is a good thing," Aveni said. "The citizens were saying this [illegal immigration] is a problem and this guy speaks for them."

Prince William County Supervisor Maureen S.              Caddigan, R-Dumfries, said that both she and several other supervisors were called out in a negative fashion on bvbl.net at some point. However, she refused to give an opinion on Letiecq himself other than saying he was "different."

And Caddigan admitted that he and other Help Save Manassas members were extremely effective in influencing constituents throughout the county to bring the issue of illegal immigration to the forefront last fall.

In October, the supervisors passed a resolution that denies several county services to undocumented immigrants. The county has also implemented the Immigration & Customs Enforcement 287(g) program, which allows local police departments to enforce immigration law.

"Mr. Letiecq ... got a lot of people from all over the county to contact the board and they put a tremendous amount of pressure on the people in my district," Caddigan said. "Even in my church, my priest opposed what we were doing but I had to say to him, 'father, the overwhelming amount of citizens want something to be done about illegal immigration.' And he [Letiecq] played a very big role."

Supervisor John T. Stirrup-R-Gainesville, who is also a member of Help Save Manassas and initially proposed the resolution, was contacted by the Potomac News and Manassas Journal Messenger for this story. However, Stirrup will not speak to the newspaper citing displeasure with an editorial the paper published.

Staff writer Kipp Hanley can be reached at 703-369-5738 or .