Go Hazelton!

Council: Ball in Congress’ court regarding immigration
By L.A. Tarone
The Standard Speaker (Hazleton, PA), April 25, 2007
http://www.standardspeaker.com/index.ph ... 25c23be216

Hazleton City Council has formally asked Congress to allow state and local governments the authority to enforce federal immigration law.

Wednesday night, council passed a resolution asking Congress to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, also known as the McCarran-Walter Act, to: allow state and local prosecutors to seek criminal charges and/or deportation of those in the country illegally; allow county judges the authority to hold hearings on immigration violations and order deportations; and order businesses that hire illegals to reimburse federal, state and local governments for costs associated with the arrest and/or deportation of illegals.

A resolution is a strongly worded suggestion; it does not carry the power of law.

The proposal passed unanimously with no comment from council members.

However, during the pre-agenda public comment portion of the meeting, Superior Court Judge Correale Stevens asked council to pass the resolution and commended members for considering it.

Stevens has been promoting similar proposals for years.

Stevens said immigration has changed considerably from a century ago. He said immigrants of the late 19th and early 20th centuries came to the United States because of their 'desire to be part of American society' and that they 'held respect for our laws.'

'Today, illegal aliens get free education, free health care and want a free pass from our laws,' Stevens said. 'Today, they have more rights than legal American citizens.

'To say this is a federal problem is a do nothing approach. The federal government must recognize this is a local problem.'

He said the 'federal policy is no enforcement,' adding that 'encourages more illegal immigration' and 'guarantees future terrorist attacks.'

'There is nothing in the Constitution that prevents Congress from doing what you’re asking it to do,' Stevens said.

Stevens noted that federal, state and local governments share the power to tax, adding that he saw no constitutional reason the three levels couldn’t share enforcement of immigration law as well.

Stevens also referred to a resolution he brought up when he was a state representative in 1983. Its main crux was similar to the proposal in front of council, though he added 'not many people were listening then.'

After the meeting, Mayor Lou Barletta, who suggested the resolution, was pleased with its passage. He said it would 'put the ball in their (members’ of Congress) court.'

Barletta noted the ordinance was crafted to avoid having states or local governments create their own immigration laws.

'We would rely on the federal government’s determination,' Barletta said. 'Once the determination is made, state and local governments would be able to assist in enforcement.

'Why can’t state and local governments prosecute?' Barletta asked rhetorically. 'That way, illegals wouldn’t be put back out on the street, and in some cases, commit serious crimes.'

So far, he said, he has not heard from any member of the state’s congressional delegation.