Prince William’s county sees signs of change amid crackdown From: ap.google.com

It is difficult to measure how many Hispanic people have left and their exact reasons for leaving. In addition to immigrants’ fears over the new policy, the souring economy and mortgage crisis may be contributing to the departures. But anecdotal evidence increasingly points to a sudden cultural and economic shift in the county’s Hispanic community.

Several Hispanic business owners say their sales have plummeted. Prince William school officials say enrollment in English for speakers of other languages classes fell nearly 6 percent to 12,645 students between Sept. 30 and March 31. Other northern Virginia counties had increases.

Salvador Caballero, pastor of Trono de Jehova Pentecostal Church in Woodbridge, said attendance at his Spanish services has shrunk to about 130 people from 200 in recent months. Some people, he said, have stopped coming because they’re afraid to be out in public, and others have moved to other states or back to their home countries.”*

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