From all I've read the Escondido council members are firm in their decision. They need our total continued support. Remember, this is southern CA!!!

http://www.10news.com/news/10414747/detail.html

City Gets Longer Response Time For Illegal-Immigration Housing Lawsuit

POSTED: 10:23 am PST November 28, 2006
UPDATED: 10:29 am PST November 28, 2006

ESCONDIDO, Calif. -- A federal judge has extended the city of Escondido's deadline to respond to a lawsuit challenging its illegal-immigrant housing ordinance, it was reported Tuesday.

U.S. District Court Judge John A. Houston late last week gave Escondido's legal defense team until Dec. 29 to respond to the suit, filed earlier this month by the American Civil Liberties Union, which claims the ordinance is unconstitutional and pre-empted by federal immigration law, the North County Times reported.

The law is designed to prevent landlords from renting to illegal immigrants by suspending their business licenses for each unit occupied by undocumented aliens.

The ordinance also provides for landlords to be fined up to $1,000 per day for each tenant who continues living at the property.

Originally, the city had been given until Dec. 15 to respond to the lawsuit, which was filed on behalf of two Escondido landlords and two illegal immigrants who live in the city and who say their families would be displaced if the measure is enforced, the newspaper reported.

Two weeks ago -- one day before the law was to take effect -- Houston issued a temporary restraining order prohibiting the city from enforcing the ordinance. A preliminary injunction hearing is scheduled for March 8.

If granted, a preliminary injunction would bar Escondido from enforcing the ordinance until the lawsuit has been fully litigated.

In response to Houston's restraining order, El Groupo, a coalition of local Hispanic and civil rights leaders, issued a letter to the Escondido City Council last week asking members to set aside the ordinance.

However, the council majority that approved the measure in October has said it will continue to defend the law against legal challenges, the Times reported.