Thread: Court upholds ban on Texas immigrant housing law

8:26 p.m. Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Court upholds ban on Texas immigrant housing law

The Associated Press

DALLAS — A federal appeals court Wednesday upheld a lower court ruling that stopped a Dallas suburb's ban on illegal immigrants seeking housing.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Farmers Branch overstepped its authority in 2008 when it passed a law calling on the city's building inspector to check the immigration status of anyone wanting to rent an apartment who wasn't a U.S. citizen.

Under the law, illegal immigrants would have been barred from rental housing, and landlords who knowingly allowed them to stay could have their rental licenses barred.

The appellate court said the city was seeking to exclude illegal immigrants, particularly Latinos, under the guise of policing housing.

"Because the sole purpose and effect of this ordinance is to target the presence of illegal aliens within the City of Farmers Branch and to cause their removal, it contravenes the federal government's exclusive authority over the regulation of immigration and the conditions of residence in this country," the court's opinion stated.

The city had appealed the decision of U.S. District Judge Jane J. Boyle, who ruled two years ago that the law is unconstitutional after a lawsuit was filed by apartment owners and tenants.

William Brewer, the lead attorney for the plaintiffs, said he sensed a "strong undercurrent" throughout the appellate court's decision that Farmers Branch was engaged in discrimination. The ruling is particularly meaningful because the 5th Circuit has a reputation for conservatism, he said.

Brewer noted that the ruling affirms Boyle's decision that Farmers Branch must pay the plaintiffs' attorney fees, which before the appeal were nearly $2 million. He called that portion of the decision "a strong deterrent" against other cities seeking to pass similar laws.

"Clearly, both the trial court and the appellate court recognize that this ordinance was discriminatory," Brewer said.

Farmers Branch Mayor Bill Glancy said he will talk with City Council members before deciding whether to push for the matter to be heard by the full appeals court or the U.S. Supreme Court.

Glancy, who took office last year, said he supported the law and other efforts to keep illegal immigrants out of Farmers Branch, a suburb with nearly 29,000 residents northwest of Dallas.

"Basically, it has discouraged people who are illegal from coming into the city," he said.

Court upholds ban on Texas immigrant housing law *| ajc.com

Glancy, who took office last year, said he supported the law and other efforts to keep illegal immigrants out of Farmers Branch, a suburb with nearly 29,000 residents northwest of Dallas.

"Basically, it has discouraged people who are illegal from coming into the city," he said.

HERO award for 3/21/2012!!!

Farmers Branch Mayor Bill Glancy said he will talk with City Council members before deciding whether to push for the matter to be heard by the full appeals court or the U.S. Supreme Court.

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It has been yes from day 1 when citizens showed up in record numbers to vote for and approve this ordinance ,which shows that we are sick and tired of illegals and their trying to turn our city into little mexico and trashing it,it has been yes that we will go all the was to SCOTUS with this ordinance .

Court upholds ban on Texas immigrant housing law
Updated 06:21 a.m., Thursday, March 22, 2012



FILE - In this Aug. 26, 2006 file photo, Jerod Jaramillo, 12, right, and Jose Villaneda carry signs and march during an immigration law protest in front of city hall in Farmers Branch, Texas. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday, March 21, 2012, that the ordinance passed by Farmers Branch in 2008 overstepped the town's authority, upholding a lower court ruling stopping a ban on illegal immigrants seeking housing. The law called on the city's building inspector to check the immigration status of anyone wanting to rent an apartment who wasn't a U.S. citizen. (L.M. Otero / AP)


DALLAS (AP) — A federal appeals court Wednesday upheld a lower court ruling that stopped a Dallas suburb's ban on illegal immigrants seeking housing.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Farmers Branch overstepped its authority in 2008 when it passed a law calling on the city's building inspector to check the immigration status of anyone wanting to rent an apartment who wasn't a U.S. citizen.

Under the law, illegal immigrants would have been barred from rental housing, and landlords who knowingly allowed them to stay could have their rental licenses barred.

The appellate court said the city was seeking to exclude illegal immigrants, particularly Latinos, under the guise of policing housing.

"Because the sole purpose and effect of this ordinance is to target the presence of illegal aliens within the City of Farmers Branch and to cause their removal, it contravenes the federal government's exclusive authority over the regulation of immigration and the conditions of residence in this country," the court's opinion stated.

The city had appealed the decision of U.S. District Judge Jane J. Boyle, who ruled two years ago that the law is unconstitutional after a lawsuit was filed by apartment owners and tenants.

William Brewer, the lead attorney for the plaintiffs, said he sensed a "strong undercurrent" throughout the appellate court's decision that Farmers Branch was engaged in discrimination. The ruling is particularly meaningful because the 5th Circuit has a reputation for conservatism, he said.

Brewer noted that the ruling affirms Boyle's decision that Farmers Branch must pay the plaintiffs' attorney fees, which before the appeal were nearly $2 million. He called that portion of the decision "a strong deterrent" against other cities seeking to pass similar laws.

"Clearly, both the trial court and the appellate court recognize that this ordinance was discriminatory," Brewer said.

Farmers Branch Mayor Bill Glancy said he will talk with City Council members before deciding whether to push for the matter to be heard by the full appeals court or the U.S. Supreme Court.

Glancy, who took office last year, said he supported the law and other efforts to keep illegal immigrants out of Farmers Branch, a suburb with nearly 29,000 residents northwest of Dallas.

"Basically, it has discouraged people who are illegal from coming into the city," he said.

Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, a nationwide advocate for tougher illegal immigration laws who participated in the Farmers Branch case, said he was not surprised by Wednesday's ruling. Two of the three judges who heard the case last year indicated they opposed the city's law, Kobach said.

"The case is definitely not over," Kobach said.

Read more: Court upholds ban on Texas immigrant housing law - Times Union

"Because the sole purpose and effect of this ordinance is to target the presence of illegal aliens within the City of Farmers Branch and to cause their removal, it contravenes the federal government's exclusive authority over the regulation of immigration and the conditions of residence in this country," the court's opinion stated.

Therein lies the problem, the federal government doesn't follow their own laws re illegal immigration.

RELATED

http://www.alipac.us/f12/dallas-subu...-rules-284144/