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In 2007, local Hispanic leaders estimated that the Manassas Hispanic community has grown to about 20,000 to 30,000 members. Other civic groups[specify] are expressing concern about the number of illegal immigrants. An accurate count of illegal immigrants for Manassas is not available [7].
As of October 2008, police in the city of Manassas will begin checking the residency status of everyone arrested starting December 1. The policy announced is intended to bring the city's practices in line with surrounding Prince William County. Police officers will ask about the immigration status of anyone arrested for a violation of a state or local law. As in Prince William County, police will be able to ask about a person's residency before arrest if the officer has reason to believe the person is in the country illegally. The sudden decline of the immigrant population in Manassas and Prince William County has exacerbated the residential housing vacancy rates in 2008 and 2009. Many homes formerly occupied by large extended families or friends are now vacant. Local real estate investors who advertise "manassas house deals" are seizing the opportunity to buy these vacant, bank-owned properties to renovate and resell. As this occurs, the demographics of Manassas continue to change.
Manassas is part of Virginia's 10th congressional district, represented by Republican Frank Wolf, elected in 1980.
The state's senior member of the United States Senate is Democrat Jim Webb, elected in 2006. The state's junior member of the United States Senate is Democrat Mark Warner, elected in 2008. The Governor of Virginia is Republican Bob McDonnell, elected in 2009.
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