In 2004, concerned organizations and individuals formed the Virginia Alliance for Sensible Community Policing Efforts (VA-SCOPE). According to Jeanne Smoot of the Tahirih Justice Center, “As an organization that assists immigrant women survivors of violent crimes, we were concerned about the ‘chilling effect’ that local immigration enforcement proposals have on the willingness of victims to come forward, report crimes and seek help. Together with other groups sharing similar concerns about preserving trust between local law enforcement and the immigrant communities of Virginia, we formed VA-SCOPE to oppose such measures.”

At that time, most local law enforcement agencies agreed with VA-SCOPE. A 2004 article in Police Chief Magazine took the position that “adding the federal responsibility of enforcing immigration laws to the job duties of local police officers would be imprudent and hinder their crime fighting at the local level.”

In 2007, most law enforcement leaders continue to agree. However, continued political pressure on state and local officials from groups that want to make Virginia “unwelcoming and uncomfortable for illegal aliens” has changed the political picture and at times forced the hand of local law enforcement. Some Virginia law enforcement agencies, such as the Shenandoah County Sheriff’s Department and the Herndon Town Police have signed Memoranda of Understanding with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that give them an immigration enforcement role. This summer, several other jurisdictions, including Prince William and Loudoun Counties, began to consider similar actions, along with other proposals that would punish undocumented immigrants.

Not all Virginia jurisdictions are moving in this direction. Gerald E. Connolly, chair of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, wrote in an op-ed published in the Washington Post, “Forty percent of Fairfax’s population belongs to a minority group . . . As our minority population has tripled in the past quarter-century, we have become the economic engine of the commonwealth, with the nation’s highest median income. Our school system has become the envy of the nation, and our crime rate is the lowest among the nation’s large jurisdictions.” Connolly wrote that Fairfax County is cooperating with immigration authorities, but “without the specter of racial profiling or inciting fear in our immigrant communities.”

As this issue continues to intensify statewide, VA-SCOPE held two meetings this summer to accomplish its goals. The first, in Arlington during June, included briefings on the current federal immigration situation and then an organizing exercise designed to help members focus on various local situations that may come up.

The second meeting included steps to more formally organize VA-SCOPE. VA-SCOPE had been an informal network, operating mainly by e-mail and conference calls. There was also detailed discussion of the State Crime Commission’s plans, especially its Illegal Immigration Task Force, set to make recommendations in October.

Participants at the two meetings included representatives of the Reston Interfaith Center, El Pueblo Unido, Tenants and Workers United, Virginia Muslim Political Action Committee, Just Neighbors, the Tahirih Justice Center, the Virginia Justice Center, the Virginia Organizing Project and about 20 other organizations.

In September, the Crime Commission’s Task Force made its draft recommendations public. They include a statewide 1,000-bed jail for undocumented immigrants, as well as more restrictions to ensure that local jails and magistrates do not release suspected undocumented immigrants. VA-SCOPE member Tim Freilich of the Virginia Justice Center, present at the Task Force meeting, urged the Commission to “rebuild and preserve the trust between the immigrant communities of Virginia and state and local law enforcement” rather than jailing more immigrants.

To learn more about VA-SCOPE and to join the listserv, contact Anne Sidwell at the Tahirih Justice Center, anne@tahirih.org.