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Supervisors absent from illegal immigration meeting
No members of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors attended a community meeting Aug. 26 on an illegal immigration resolution the board passed in July. The resolution may deny public services to those in the country illegally.Held at Sterling's Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church, which has a large Hispanic/Latino congregation, the meeting was organized by La Voz of Loudoun to educate the immigrant community on the controversial resolution and the Sheriff's Office's plans to enforce federal immigration laws.
"Political confrontation after a church service seems wrong," said Supervisor Eugene Delgaudio (R-Sterling), on why he did not attend the meeting. Delgaudio proposed the illegal immigration resolution now being reviewed by county staff.
The Washington Post's Living in Loco blog had reported that Delgaudio may have attempted to persuade the Catholic Diocese of Arlington to not allow the La Voz event to take place at Christ the Redeemer.
In an interview, Delgaudio denied doing this, but he did say that he voiced his concern about the meeting to at least one church leader at Christ the Redeemer.
While no supervisors attended the meeting, Loudoun County School Board Chairman Robert DuPree and Potomac School Board representative John Stevens were there. However, the only elected official to speak was J. Warren Geurin, Sterling's representative on the School Board.
"In the school system, we do not verify immigration status," Geurin said. His comments elicited a round of applause from the several hundred people in attendance.
He also urged the parents of the school system's immigrant students to take English as a Second Language, or ESL, classes. Of immigrant students, he said about 4,000 in Loudoun took these classes last school year.
Loudoun zoning officials also addressed the audience. Juanita Toriello, a zoning inspector, said the most common infractions she encounters are abandoned cars, commercial vehicles parked at homes, homeowners operating businesses out of their houses without a permit and homes with more than one kitchen. This changes the designation of a home from single-family to multi-family, she said.
Presentations were also made on immigrant's rights in the workplace and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's 287(g) program, which gives training to state and local police on federal immigration laws.
During questions and answers, Republican Loudoun sheriff candidate Greg Ahlemann, a former Loudoun deputy, said police can detain someone for something as simple as "running a red light" if they are not carrying identification.
He also recounted an incident of an illegal immigrant from Sterling who last year hit and killed a Herndon man with his car. The driver, Jose Santos Sibrian Espinoza, had been cited by police at least a dozen times for traffic violations before the incident.
"I support th 287(g) program," Ahlemann said.
After Ahlemann's comments, Christ the Redeemer's Father C. Donald Howard reminded Ahlemann that the meeting was not a political forum and asked him not to speak again.
Also during the questions and answers, one man said he was concerned Loudoun may deny illegal immigrants access to county libraries and swimming pools, while another scolded Loudoun leaders for the resolution.
"We are first-class citizens," the man said, switching between Spanish and English. "We have rights. At least give us some respect."
On Sept. 22, the Arlington Diocese's Peace and Justice Commission with host a daylong conference on immigration at Saint Anthony of Padua Parish in Falls Church. Cardinal Theodore McCarrick is scheduled to give a speech.
Contact the reporter at jjacks@timespapers.com
Supervisor Jim Clem did send an aide who explained that he (Clem) does not attend any events on Sundays.
Also, Supervisor Delgaudio absolutely did contact the Arlington Diocese regarding the meeting. I know because I had to respond to the diocese's legal council regarding several specific complaints and concerns raised by Delgaudio, among them "the supervisor is worried that the meeting might develop into a “political rally” of sorts, possibly to the detriment of his candidacy for reelection to the Board." To the best of my knowledge he did not actually try to have the meeting blocked.
With the exception of Sheriff's candidate Greg Ahlemann, no one violated the guidelines set clearly at the onset to ensure that the event would not become a political one. La Voz of Loudoun (a nonpartisan 501(c)(3)non-profit) had planned on an educational, not political, presentation from the very begining.
Posted by B_Laura_Valle
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The reason Delgaudio, et al, didn't show up is really very simple: Cowardice.
Posted by Sundance
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The meeting sponsored by La Voz of loudoun at Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church was a great example of American democracy in action. Rather than an angry response to the hate mongering attacks of a local politician, the meeting provided information and support to immigrant families.
We can be proud of such citizens as J. Warren Guerin, who welcomed immigrant children to the Loudoun County Public Schools, and Laura Valle, leader of La Voz of Loudoun, who calmly articulated the issues raised even while suffering public attacks from those who would sow the seeds of divisiveness in our community.
The organizers and participants of this meeting engaged in the respected Amercian traditions of public assembly and free speech to address public issues. All Americans hold these rights dear.
Well done, citizens of Loudoun, you have strengthened our democracy by your acts!
Let democracy flourish in our fair county!
Posted by LoudounPatriot
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Why would you berate the supervisors for not attending a talk on illegal immigration, when the issue they are studying is illegal aliens ?
The illegal alien issue is totally unrelated to legal immigration, regardless of how hard you try to spin it otherwise.
Posted by dan_va
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dan - what are you talking about? Can you translate that into intelligble English, please.
Posted by prince
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Prince, are you another person who cannot distinguish the word "legal" from the word "illegal" or is there some other problem?
Posted by MarkKay
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well, let's see. legal has 5 letters and illegal has 7. no- it's pretty clear - it is not the same word and I can distinguish the difference. no other problem here MarkKay. thanks for caring:)
i just didn't get the part Dan the man said about berating the supervisors. at first glance it doesn't make sense. at second, third, and fourth glance it still doesn't make sense.
Posted by prince
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