McDonnell Moves Ahead With Seeking Police Role In Enforcing Immigration Law

Richmond, Va. --

Gov. Bob McDonnell yesterday rejected a request by Latino and other organizations that he not go ahead with a proposal to let Virginia State Police pursue civil immigration law-enforcement powers.

Using the Virginia State Police is "a common-sense way for the federal government to partner with the commonwealth to improve public safety," said Stacey Johnson, press secretary to McDonnell.

That is the opposite of what the coalition, VA-SCOPE, contends. The acronym stands for the Virginia Alliance for Sensible Community Policing Efforts.

In a letter yesterday to McDonnell, the coalition said using the state police "would undermine immigrants' trust of law enforcement."

"We are particularly concerned about the severe chilling effect that descends on immigrant communities, and especially on immigrant crime victims and witnesses, if they perceive that law enforcement is to be feared rather than trusted, and the subsequent impact on crime reporting and public safety in Virginia," VA-SCOPE said in a letter to McDonnell.

McDonnell on Aug. 10 asked the Department of Homeland Security for an agreement that would allow troopers to perform functions of federal immigration officers.

The coalition also said Virginia has taken enough steps to make Virginians safe. It is one of only two states that requires an immigration status inquiry of every person taken into custody for a criminal act, the coalition said.

McDonnell said he would want the troopers to pursue only major drug offenses or violent offenses, such as murder, rape, robbery and kidnapping, as well as DUI offenses.

The coalition includes LULAC Virginia, Multi-Cultural Alliance of Virginia, Hispanic Community Dialogue, Tenants and Workers United, Virginia Coalition of Latino Organizations, Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy and Virginia Organizing.

McDonnell wants Homeland Security to enter into a so-called 287g agreement with the state. The agreement is named after a section of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Seven localities in the state have such a pact.

www.timesdispatch.com

No Oil Derricks Any Time Soon For Virginia

Richmond, Va. --

Oil derricks may not be sprouting anytime soon off the Virginia coast because of the BP blowout, but the state's senior U.S. senator says those operating elsewhere must be protected from another threat: terrorism.

Democrat Jim Webb, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, is calling on the Obama administration to develop safeguards for shielding offshore platforms from attack.

Webb made his case in a recent letter to Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano and Interior Secretary Kenneth Salazar.

"While Congress will continue to scrutinize BP and regulatory agencies, I write to urge you to also be vigilant against deliberate acts, such as an attack or sabotage, that could similarly devastate the region," says Webb, referring to the oil-rich Gulf Coast.

Webb favors exploration for oil and gas in Virginia waters, but after the Deepwater Horizon disaster he backed a White House-ordered delay until safety and environmental concerns are addressed.

In his letter, Webb notes that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission now requires that atomic generators withstand plane crashes. Similar standards should be considered for the oil and gas industries, Webb says.

"Security issues surrounding oil and gas drilling are of a different nature, but a lack of vigilance could leave the marine ecosystem, as well as certain areas of our national security, at great risk," Webb said.

"The Deepwater Horizon incident has caused the worst environmental disaster in our nation's history. With dozens of wells operating in the Gulf of Mexico and elsewhere, we must employ policies that mitigate all types of risk.

"I therefore request that you provide, as soon as practicable, your assessment of the vulnerability of offshore oil rigs to attack, the current framework for addressing such risks and your recommendations to Congress for deploying adequate resources and safeguards," Webb says.

Webb's request for administration suggestions to Congress on improving security of offshore platforms comes as the Virginian readies for a possible rematch in two years with the incumbent Republican he narrowly defeated in 2006, George Allen.

Allen, too, supports energy exploration off the state's coast. A former governor, Allen operates a political consultancy that is aligned with the U.S. energy industry and through which he advocates for increased domestic drilling.

www.timesdispatch.com

Fingerprint Program Targets Illegal Immigrants In Virginia

A federal initiative to identify illegal immigrants through enhanced fingerprint-checking at local jails is in place throughout Virginia.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and state Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli said Monday that Virginia is one of 22 states in the "Secure Communities" program, which is expected to go nationwide by 2013.

Previously, fingerprints of people charged with crimes were checked against a criminal-history database maintained by the FBI. Now they also will be run through an immigration database maintained by the Department of Homeland Security. If the prints match information in that system, ICE will be notified to determine the person's immigration status and take enforcement action, if warranted.

www.shoredailynews.com