AP Texas News



May 9, 2008, 5:43PM
Justice to monitor elections in 2 immigration hot spots


© 2008 The Associated Press

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DALLAS — The Justice Department will monitor Saturday's municipal elections in a pair of Dallas suburbs that have been flash points in the immigration debate.

The department said Friday that the monitoring is designed to ensure compliance with the Voting Rights Act.

Dallas County is obligated to provide all election information, ballots and voting assistance in Spanish and English in accordance with the act, the Justice Department said in a news release.

Each year, the department employs hundreds of federal observers for elections across the country.

In Farmers Branch, the mayor's race includes Councilman Tim O'Hare, who authored an ordinance to ban illegal immigrants from renting in the city. In Irving, advocates have questioned police stops that they say were targeting illegal immigrants.

"Where there is a heated controversy over immigration, I think it does make sense to make sure there is a fair and safe election," said Luis Figueroa, the legislative staff attorney for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund.

O'Hare agreed that heated debates in Farmers Branch about banning illegal immigrants from renting property is what brought out the Justice Department.

"Obviously illegal immigration has been a hot topic in Farmers Branch and I would certainly assume it has something to do with that," O'Hare said.

The Justice Department didn't immediately reply to an e-mail request seeking further comment.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/5768585.html

Yea though i walk through the valley of the shadow of death
71000 Americans killed by illegals since 9-11