Clarksville Councilman wants illegals out
http://www.theleafchronicle.com/apps/pb ... 00339/1002
Article published Aug 30, 2006
Councilman wants illegals out
Councilman proposes to punish employers, landlords aiding aliens
By ERIC SNYDER
The Leaf-Chronicle
A City Council member is wondering if local law enforcement is deliberately turning a blind eye to illegal immigrants living in Clarksville.
Ward 4 City Councilman Wallace Redd has drafted an ordinance, to be presented to the City Council next week, which would punish landlords or employers who "aid and abet illegal aliens."
The ordinance also "declares that English is the official language of the city government."
Redd's action comes in response to accounts of Friday's walk-through of Burkhart's Mobile Home Park in New Providence by Police Chief Mark Smith, Clarksville Mayor Don Trotter, a detective and several uniformed police officers in an effort to improve relations with the Hispanic community.
Hispanic immigrants often hail from countries where the police are to be feared, so they are reluctant to report the crimes committed against them, local law enforcement officials explained.
"First of all, why is the chief of police in a mobile home park talking to illegal aliens?" Redd wrote in an e-mail to Chief Smith Monday. "If the aliens are illegal, shouldn't they be worried?"
The language and structure of Redd's ordinance is very similar to an ordinance passed by Hazleton, Pa., in July, which swiftly prompted a lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund for being overly broad.
The ordinance proposes that any business which knowingly "employs, retain, aids or abets illegal aliens or illegal immigration into the United States" shall have its business license revoked for one year. The suspension would last five years for subsequent violations.
The ordinance would also levy $1,000 fines against landlords who allow illegal aliens to use, rent or lease their property.
Redd's ordinance, like the one passed by the Pennsylvania town, claims "illegal immigration leads to higher crime rates, contributes to overcrowded classrooms and failing schools. Contributes to burdens on public services and diminishes our overall quality of life."
Chief Smith said Tuesday he was not at the mobile home park to condone anyone's legal status, but to improve relations with the Hispanic community so they'll report crimes against them.
"We're really having a problem with the Hispanic population becoming victims," Smith said.
Residents were not quizzed on their legal status during the walk-through.
"The Clarksville Police Department on the local level has very little to do with illegal immigration," the police chief said.
While the Police Department has no written policy concerning illegal immigrants, Smith said officers are to call the Memphis branch of the Immigration and Naturalization Services to report illegal aliens they encounter.
Except in cases of felony offenses, local police are usually instructed to note the alien's name and release them.
Redd said he's not yet certain who would enforce the ordinance.
Smith said it would be "extremely difficult" for his officers to enforce — even if the department had more resources.
"I feel terribly sorry for these people. And that is a very good gesture," Redd said of Friday's walk-through. "But the thing is, we've got to look at the root of the problem — and that is, they shouldn't be here to begin with.
"We need to encourage them to leave Clarksville."
Redd said he was not worried that similar ordinances have been met with lawsuits.
"I know that the legal stuff is not one of our strong points," Redd said, referring to numerous federal discrimination lawsuits filed against the Police Department. He added, "We are ready for it. That's why we have a city attorney."
Angel Natal, a Hispanic community leader who helped organize the walk-through, said the ordinance risks negating any progress Clarksville has made in reaching out to the Hispanic community.
He did not, however, object to declaring English the official language of Clarksville government.
"English is the first language. Ain't no question," Natal said.
City Council will discuss the ordinance at its 4:30 p.m. Tuesday executive session.
