(Washington, DC) – Judicial Watch, the public interest group that fights government corruption, announced today that it has sued Fairfax County, Virginia for its decision to use taxpayer funds to facilitate illegal activity.  On September 12, 2005, Fairfax County’s Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to provide $400,000 in taxpayer funds for the operation of three illegal “Day Laborer Sites” in the Herndon, Culmore and Annandale districts of Fairfax County.  Judicial Watch today asked the Circuit Court in Fairfax to add the County as a second defendant in a lawsuit originally filed against the Town of Herndon on September 1, 2005.

According to the lawsuit, “…persons seeking employment at the ‘Day Laborer Site’ will include undocumented workers, and the Board of Supervisors knew this to be the case when it approved funding for the ‘Day Laborer Site.’”  Judicial Watch also noted that a Fairfax County survey, taken in the Fall of 2003, indicated that a majority of “day laborers” lack the documentation to work in the United States.

In testimony before the Fairfax Board of Supervisors and in its legal complaint, Judicial Watch made clear that “Day Laborer Sites” are a violation of federal and state laws, along with local zoning ordinances.  Citizens of Fairfax County, represented by Judicial Watch, seek an injunction against the site, along with a judicial determination that the expenditure of taxpayer funds in furtherance of the Day Laborer Site is unlawful and void.

Judicial Watch provided the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors with written legal notice on September 8, 2005 – advising against unlawfully expending public funds in furtherance of illegal activity.  Judicial Watch Director of Litigation, Paul Orfanedes, as well as Director of Investigations & Research Chris Farrell both made statements before the Fairfax Board of Supervisors during a public hearing held before the budget vote.

“Judicial Watch provided fair warning to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors that if they chose to violate the law, there would be consequences,” said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton.  “Citizens of Fairfax County are justifiably outraged that their tax dollars will be used for the purpose of violating the law.  Local governments such as Fairfax County and the Town of Herndon simply must stop undermining federal immigration law.”

A copy of Judicial Watch’s amended complaint, along with other documents related to Judicial Watch’s fight to stop the illegal “Day Laborer Site," can be found on Judicial Watch’s Internet site, www.judicialwatch.org.

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