Deane, consul answer questions

More than 100 people attended a meeting with Prince William police Chief Charlie T. Deane and Enrique Escorza, the Mexican general consul in Washington, D.C., to have their questions answered about the police department's recently implemented illegal immigration enforcement plan.

"Community and police must embark in a partnership," Escorza read in Spanish from a prepared statement, with a printed translation provided. "… There are concerns that the fear of the lack of knowledge may nourish wrong perceptions. It is also a concern for all that situations like that may increase unintended stereotypes and attitudes that emphasize social

tensions. ... Therefore, factual information is the key to respect and be respected. That is exactly what we are looking for and that is the reason why we are here."

The informational meeting, held at the Hi Mart on U.S. 1 in Woodbridge, was one of nearly 30 Deane has held to educate the community about the policy mandated under a resolution the Prince William Board of County Supervisors passed unanimously last year.

The resolution, which thrust the county into the national spotlight and led to months of heated debate, denies some county services to illegal immigrants and requires police officers to investigate the immigration status of someone arrested for minor or serious offenses when there is probable cause that they are illegal.

It also called for the department to work with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement under the 287(g) program -- something being done through the six-member criminal alien unit that will focus on serious crimes.

During the meeting, Deane explained how the policy came to be and what it requires of the

police.

He and Escorza then fielded questions that drew the meeting from 7 p.m. past 9 p.m.

Concerns about ICE raids at two work sites in the Manassas area when 34 Latin America nationals were arrested Monday were brought up during the meeting.

Deane said the police department provided assistance during the raid but did not assist in the

investigation.

Many of the questions that came in English and Spanish were directed at how probable cause is determined.

Deane's answer that officers will rely on facts and information, which could include everything from someone's inability to speak English to providing a forged ID, frustrated some who said they felt the answer was too vague.

"He leaves a lot of questions in our heads," 30-year-old Marlin Fisher, a U.S. citizen originally from Peru, said of the chief's answer to her question about using someone's language as a means to building probable cause is equivalent to racial profiling.

Several asked what would happen to a person involved in an accident who has no driver's license.

That was one of the main concerns of Jacoba Casteneda, an illegal immigrant living in Woodbridge, who said he has no driver's license but has to be able to drive.

Casteneda, who lives with his wife and two U.S.-born children, said he worries he'll be deported and separated from his family if he's ever pulled over.

"Before, nobody was scared about police officers," he said before the start of the meeting. "Now everybody's scared."

But many proponents of the measure have argued that illegal is illegal, regardless of whether a criminal act is committed, and that failed action at the federal level has created a need for local and state government to enforce immigration law.

While Deane reiterated that each case would vary, he said a person's immigration status might be checked if there is no driver's license.

He reiterated that victims and witnesses would be protected, and immigration status of those individuals would not be checked.

But tricky situations could arise, he added, when a known criminal or gang member is the victim of a crime.

"But our commitment to you," he said, "is we will do what we can to protect victims and witnesses."

Groups wanting to schedule briefings on the policy can call 703-792-7245.

Information on the police department's illegal immigration enforcement policy is available at pwcgov.org/police.

Staff writer Elisa Glushefski can be reached at 703-878-8062.