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Immigrants weigh in on race to represent

Virginias 10th District in U.S. House
# November 4, 2014 / $ Mariam Baksh

STERLING, Va.With a growing immigrant population Asian Americans and Latinos of voting age
outnumbered naturalized citizens of voting age 1.5 to 1 in 2012 Virginias 10th congressional
district is largely inuenced by foreign-born voters.
Rizwan Dar, 55, is an immigrant from Pakistan. Hes been living in Fairfax County for 14 years and
cited civic duty as his reason for coming to the polls Tuesday.
Though Dar says hes not that familiar with issues such as gun control or immigration, he
oers views that reect a moderate approach. I cant live in D.C. all my life and not be insensitive to
someone in rural Montana who might need to have a gun for their protection, he says. Im not
against arms, but there should be some greater control.
Dar had been a longtime supporter of Republican Rep. Frank Wolf and agrees with his policies,
especially on immigration. He says he is hoping that Barbara Comstock will grow into a more
moderate position if she takes his place in Congress for Virginias 10th district.
This is a multiracial society, and its getting more diverse, he said. Shes going to have to represent
us.
Dar says he voted for Democrat Mark Warner in the race for U.S. Senate and Comstock for the House
race.
Sudha Sidhu, 62, is a program manager for IBM. He moved to the U.S. from India and has been living
in Loudoun County since 1982. He says he voted for Republicans straight down the ticket. He was not
hopeful about the impact of his vote.
It doesnt mean its going to change anything, he said. We still have to depend on their agreement
and ability to work with others in Congress.
Sidhu says he voted despite his pessimism because its his responsibility as a citizen.
On immigration, Sidhu says everyone should stand in line and go through the process.
There should be no free lunch, he said, citing illegal immigration and the inux of foreign children
into the school system. That means youre going to have to have more schools, and that means
more taxes.
On gun control, Sidhu referenced recent school shootings in relaying his support of background and
mental health checks and safety measures so that guns do not get into the hands of children.
For hunting its OK, but no one should have military-style weapons, he said. They have to go
through all the checks. Children will be children; we have to keep them safe.
Comstock has a 92 percent rating from the National Rie Association, and in 2010, she voted to
authorize concealed handguns in establishments that serve alcohol.
In 2011, she voted in favor of excluding undocumented immigrants from public universities.

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