http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs. ... 0770119001 -News
Hispanic civil rights group threatens to sue Beaufort County

by The Assoicated Press
published January 19, 2007 5:46 am


Hilton Head Island, S.C. – A Hispanic civil rights group says it will likely sue Beaufort County unless leaders repeal an ordinance that says business who knowingly hire illegal immigrants could lose their business licenses.

Advertisement
The Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund sent a letter to county officials Wednesday, questioning whether the measure was legal and pointing out it could cause civil rights violations.

The group said it was acting on behalf of local Hispanic leaders, attorneys and business owners. The fund said it has successfully fought laws targeted at immigrants in New York and New Jersey.

"A lawsuit would undoubtedly result in nationwide negative publicity which could potentially cripple Beaufort County's tourism industry," the group wrote in its letter.

The County Council passed the ordinance last month. It requires people who apply for a county business license to sign a form verifying, under penalty of perjury, they do not knowingly employ or plan to hire an illegal immigrant. Licensed companies would be subject to county audits of their employees' documentation.

County Council Vice Chairman Skeet Von Harten called the letter a scare tactic, but he said the council will watch whether legal challenges to similar ordinances elsewhere are successful before Beaufort County's measure goes into effect next January.

"We can observe and learn from other litigation so we can see what problems we have with ours, if any," said Von Harten, who added the he would encourage the county to repeal the ordinance if legal challenges put the county "in an indefensible position."

Cesar Perales, president and general counsel of the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund , said the ordinance does little but give the impression that Beaufort County doesn't want Hispanics in the community.

"It really is a bizarre, strange piece of legislation that has very little impact except to express an anti-immigrant and in Beaufort County, it's clearly its an anti-Latino sentiment," Perales said.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Information from: The Island Packet, www.islandpacket.comInformation from: The Island Packet, www.islandpacket.com

Reader Feedback: Comment on this article | Register here