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Frederick seeks authority to deal with illegals

By Tom LoBianco
December 9, 2007

ANNAPOLIS — Frederick County officials have taken an unusual step to draw attention to their efforts to deal with a growing problem with illegal aliens in their community: They have asked state lawmakers to pass a measure calling for a constitutional convention.

"The convening of a constitutional convention would allow appropriate amendments to be made to the United States Constitution to enable local governments to address citizenship/immigration issues," the county's commissioners wrote in the legislative package they have submitted for state approval.

While unusual, the action by the county commissioners is not unprecedented. In October, a state senator in South Carolina issued a similar call for a constitutional convention to address illegal-alien issues.

But members of Frederick County's State House delegation — which typically approves local measures before the General Assembly votes on them as a whole — have stamped the proposal dead on arrival.

"My sense is, that thing is deader than a doornail," said Delegate Richard B. Weldon, Frederick Republican.

Commissioners who supported the measure — it passed unanimously — said they were more concerned with raising the issue of illegal aliens in Frederick County than succeeding in calling a constitutional convention.

"It was to ratchet up the noise a little bit," said Commissioner Charles A. Jenkins. He likened what Frederick leaders are doing to the efforts of other localities including Farmer's Branch, Texas; Hazelton, Pa.; and Prince William County in Virginia.

"All these places are doing what they can as they best see fit to deal with their immigration situation," he said.

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