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Calif. city's immigrant housing law dead

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

SAN DIEGO (AP) - The city of Escondido said it won't enforce a law that punishes landlords for renting to illegal immigrants, killing a measure that many communities nationwide also have considered in an effort to crack down on undocumented workers.

In a closed session Wednesday night, the Escondido city council decided to enter an agreement that ends all litigation in the matter and keeps the city from enforcing the ordinance.

Last month, a federal judge temporarily blocked the city from enforcing the law.

U.S. District Judge John Houston said he had serious questions about whether the law would survive legal scrutiny and that it might inflict "irreparable harm" on tenants and landlords in the suburb 30 miles north of San Diego, where Hispanics make up 42 percent of the 142,000 residents.

The settlement still must be approved by the judge.

The American Civil Liberties Union and other groups had sued the city on behalf of two Escondido landlords and two women who live in the country illegally but whose children are U.S. citizens and attend school in the city.

"I'm glad the city came to its senses and settled this case," landlord Roy Garrett said in a statement released by the ACLU.

The City Council voted 3-2 in October to require landlords to submit documentation of their tenants' immigration status to the city, which would then verify that information with the federal government.

If tenants had been found to be illegal immigrants, landlords would be given 10 days to evict them or face suspension of their business licenses. Repeat offenders could have faced misdemeanor charges and fines.

Kevin M. Keenan, executive director of the ACLU of San Diego and Imperial Counties, said Escondido is the first community to drop the ordinance completely after a challenge.

More than 50 municipalities nationwide have considered, passed or rejected laws to crack down on illegal immigration. The ACLU persuaded a federal judge in November to temporarily block the city of Hazleton, Pa., from enforcing a crackdown on illegal immigrants.

Once again the ACLU aiding and abetting criminals and foreign invaders!