http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/01 ... _12_07.txt

Leases denied due to farmworkers' immigration status

By: Associated Press -

WASCO, Calif. -- Supporters of farm laborers who say they face eviction because of their immigration status have begun a campaign to help the workers stay in their Wasco apartments.

At least three tenants recently received notice that their leases will be terminated because they lack documents proving they are legal U.S. residents. The notices give the residents up to four months to leave the apartments.

Some of the 200 protesters at Wasco City Hall Thursday said they were fearful they might be evicted when their leases came up for renewal. United Farm Workers President Arturo S. Rodriguez said officials should hold off on the evictions until Congress decides on a new bill that would create a guest worker program to grant some farm laborers legal status to keep working in the United States.

"We hope they could just suspend the eviction and hold off on making any decision until we see what happens at the federal level with legalization," said farmworker Miguel Raya.

The Wasco Housing Authority manages about 200 apartments in agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide low-cost housing to farmworkers.

Tenants must meet income requirements and work in the fields to qualify, but some residents said it was the first time their immigration status had been questioned.

Commissioner John Lynch said Wasco Housing Authority officials were following the federal legal residency requirement for renting the apartments.