Rumors suggest the sour economy and public opinion are forcing illegal immigrants to leave the area

Date published: 7/21/2008

By CATHY DYSON

Rumors are circulating throughout Hispanic neighborhoods that illegal immigrants are leaving the Fredericksburg area in droves.

The slowdown in construction, as well as efforts to deny services to those who are in the country illegally, might be forcing Hispanics to move elsewhere or to return to their home countries, according to those who work with Spanish speakers.

"As long as they can work, they'll put up with the anti-immigrant sentiment," said Sue Smith, who directs a Fredericksburg ministry for Hispanics. "But if they can't even find a job, they're wondering, 'Do I want to stay in an area that doesn't want me anyway?'"

Gladys Brackett, who has helped Hispanic immigrants in the area for eight years, knows of several families who have left. Some lost their homes; others were evicted when they didn't pay rent.

Not only have jobs gotten scarcer as the economy soured, but employers also are checking papers more carefully, Brackett said.

"Nobody wants to get in trouble, and the best way to stop that is to make sure they are not hiring illegals," she said.

For the last two years, governments throughout the region have discussed ways to cope with the financial strain of illegal immigrants. Localities have discovered they can't take away federal benefits, such as food stamps or public education, but they can fine employers who hire illegal immigrants.

Even though Smith and Brackett know some families who've gone to other states or back to Mexico, they say they've heard about more people leaving than they've actually seen.

Others who work with Hispanics say they've heard the same rumors, but can't identify a single person who has left.

It's difficult to verify a change because even those who work with Hispanics aren't sure how many immigrants are in the area--or what percentage is here illegally. The most recent U.S. Census estimates suggest there are about 23,000 Hispanics in the Fredericksburg region, about 5 percent of the local population.

But anecdotal information can produce some mixed results.

Consider these two groups: Olde Forge Junction in Stafford County and the ESOL Intake Center for schools in Spotsylvania County.

Hispanics make up about a third of the population of the Olde Forge community in Falmouth and represent the majority of students tested for English proficiency at the Spotsylvania center.

Date published: 7/21/2008