As ineffective as local zoning ordinances are at the moment, we have to use the tools that are available. If you suspect a single-family residence is being overcrowded, please call your local zoning office as soon as possible and report it. If you feel uncomfortable reporting a neighbor for some reason, please contact Help Save Manassas and we will be happy to assist you.

Another tool right now are federal anti-harboring laws. It is a felony to knowingly and recklessly harbor an illegal alien under 8 U.S.C. ยง 1324. The maximum penalty for the variously defined violations in this law range from five to twenty years in federal prison. Any person who knows that they are housing an illegal alien is in violation of this law. Someone who is providing any means of support for these people so that they may continue to break federal immigration laws is in violation of this law. Local police officers are empowered to arrest persons suspected of violating this law, and if you have good reason to believe that someone is in violation, you have a duty as an American to call 911 and report your belief that someone has violated the law. The police are generally not familiar with this law, but if you provide the citation they should be able to figure out how to enforce it. With a little practice, I'm sure they'll get really good at it. If you use this tool, please be absolutely as sure as you can that you are reporting a crime in good faith and have some reasonable cause for making an allegation of wrongdoing.

Yet another tool are local regulations regarding personal property taxes and vehicle licensing. Illegal aliens are about as scrupulous about these requirements as they are of federal immigration law in many cases. As of July 1st, the owner of any parked vehicle that does not display a "county sticker" is in violation of the law. Report it. After thirty days, any vehicle with out-of-state license plates is required to register their vehicle in Virginia. Report it. Any vehicle which fails to display a license plate on the front of the vehicle is in violation. Report it. Vehicles parked on the grass in Prince William County are in violation of zoning ordinances. Report it. Although this will not result in a person being deported or arrested, illegal aliens who believe they are receiving close scrutiny from law enforcement tend to move on to somewhere where it's easier to hide.

The Legislative Committee of Help Save Manassas is considering a number of legislative proposals to reform zoning ordinances, the fire code, and several interesting local intiatives to prohibit property owners from renting to illegal aliens. If you're interested in lending a hand, and helping get these proposals into the hands of local legislators even more quickly, please contact legislative@helpsavemanassas.org and offer your help.


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