The leaders of Washington-area immigrant rights groups say Virginia communities that are considering denying services to illegal immigrants are actually helping immigrant advocacy organizations to get organized and coordinate tactics.

Northern Virginia’s Prince William County was the first to pass a resolution this summer that seeks to discourage illegal immigrants from residing within its boundaries, but three other Virginia jurisdictions (Spotsylvania, Culpeper and Loudoun counties) have followed suit by filing ordinances that crack down on illegal immigrants.