Prince William County's Illegal Immigration Crackdown May be Having a Big Effect

A new study conducted by the University of Virginia suggests that Prince William County's 2007 crackdown on illegal immigration may have had a profound and unintended effect.  It seems that many Hispanics have decided to leave or not settle in the county.  As you may remember, in 2007 the Prince William County Board of Supervisors voted to allow police to inquire about the legal status of people who were stopped for another potential violation of law.  According to the report since the law took effect 99 percent of people suspected of being here illegally were in fact here illegally, but according to the study the law has not only kept out illegal immigrants but also legal immigrants as well.

 "From 2000 to 2006, PWC’s Hispanic population

grew much more rapidly than the metro area’s

– PWC Hispanic population more than doubled in 6 years

– PWC accounted for all Hispanic growth in DC metro

region

• From 2006 to 2009, metro region Hispanic

population increased by 18.8%.

• From 2006 to 2009, PWC’s Hispanic population

increased by only 3.6%."

However, the study does point out the the economic downturn did coincided with the new law, so it is not so easy to determine how much of a roll the economic downturn played compared with the new law.