Thread: Court orders new look at Pa. city immigration law

By MICHAEL RUBINKAM
Associated Press
Published: Monday, Jun. 6, 2011 - 7:13 am
Last Modified: Monday, Jun. 6, 2011 - 7:49 am

ALLENTOWN, Pa. -- The Supreme Court ordered a federal appeals court on Monday to take a new look at a Pennsylvania city's crackdown on illegal immigrants in light of the high court's recent decision upholding an Arizona employer-sanctions law.

The high court threw out a ruling by the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that prevented the city of Hazleton from enforcing regulations that would deny permits to business that hire illegal immigrants and fine landlords who rent to them.

The measures inspired similar laws around the country, including the one in Arizona that deals only with penalties for employers.

The justices typically order lower courts to re-examine cases in light of a high court decision on a similar topic.

The Philadelphia-based 3rd Circuit ruled in September that Hazleton's Illegal Immigration Relief Act usurped the federal government's exclusive power to regulate immigration.

"It is ... not our job to sit in judgment of whether state and local frustration about federal immigration policy is warranted," wrote Chief Judge Theodore McKee. "We are, however, required to intervene when states and localities directly undermine the federal objectives embodied in statutes enacted by Congress."

Hazleton, a northeastern Pennsylvania city of about 25,000, wants to fine landlords who rent to illegal immigrants and deny business permits to companies that give them jobs. A companion measure requires prospective tenants to register with City Hall and pay for a rental permit.

Former Republican Mayor Lou Barletta pushed the measures in 2006 after two illegal immigrants were charged in a fatal shooting. Barletta, now a freshman congressman, argued that illegal immigrants brought drugs, crime and gangs to the city and overwhelmed police, schools and hospitals.

The laws have never been enforced. Hispanic groups and illegal immigrants sued to overturn the measures, and a federal judge struck them down following a trial in 2007.

Hazleton's act was copied by dozens of municipalities around the nation that believe the federal government hasn't done enough to stop illegal immigration.



Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/06/06/368032 ... z1OVaz05hy

This Is teriffic news The recent Supreme Court decision ( Whiting) sets a VERY STRONG precedent for future rulings to go In our favor,and It looks like the pennsylvania ordinance that was blocked by a lower court will be overturned as a result of the Whiting decision This also Is a very positive sign that Arizona's SB 1070 may be ruled constitutional This Is huge

Related:
Supreme Court Orders Review of PA City's Immigration Reforms
http://www.alipac.us/ftopic-240111-0.html

June 7

Hazleton’s immigration case revived

U.S. Supreme Court directs appellate court to reconsider decision in case.

By Terrie Morgan-Besecker
Law & Order Reporter

HAZLETON – The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday vacated a federal appellate court decision that declared Hazleton’s illegal-immigration ordinance unconstitutional, but the ultimate fate of the law remains in limbo.

The high court directed the Third Circuit Court of Appeals to reconsider the Hazleton case based on the Supreme Court’s May 26 decision that upheld an Arizona law, which is similar to the employment provision in the city’s Illegal-Immigration Relief Act.

U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta, R-Hazleton, declared the decision a “huge victoryâ€

Fantastic news! Of course states and communities have the right to protect themselves from the ravages of illegal immigration, and it's about time the US Supreme Court recognized that fact and upheld the US Constitution.

This is great news!