Va. county restricts illegal immigrants

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WOODBRIDGE, Va., Oct. 17 (UPI) -- A Virginia county voted unanimously early Wednesday to restrict services to illegal immigrants after a tense and boisterous 12-hour community meeting.

In Woodbridge, Va., Prince William County supervisors voted at 2:30 a.m. to have police check the immigration status of anyone they stop or apprehend, The Washington Post reported. Those unable to prove legal citizenship would also be denied business licenses, drug counseling and services for the elderly, the report said.

More than 1,200 people gathered at the county complex Tuesday afternoon and nearly one-third of them gave emotional public testimony, the Post said.

However, the plan carries a $14.2 million price tag over the next five years and the county is facing a projected revenue shortfall of $10 million in the next fiscal year. Therefore, the supervisors only committed $325,000 toward the measures and said they would find the rest down the road.