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http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2006/10 ... _17_06.txt

Latino rights groups campaign against rental ban

By: DAVID FRIED and EDWARD SIFUENTES - Staff Writers

ESCONDIDO -- Betting that a strong defense is the best offense, local Latino activist and civil rights groups banded together Tuesday to educate Escondido tenants potentially affected by a proposed ban on renting to illegal immigrants.

Civil rights groups began the day with a press conference declaring the law ---- which is expected to receive final approval from a City Council majority tonight ---- unenforceable, and vowing to try to defeat it.

The media event was followed by an evening workshop aimed at educating renters about the ins-and-outs of the rental ban, and to assure them that the law would not allow landlords to discriminate against them, and that the rental ban hasn't taken effect yet and may never be enforced.

About 80 people attended the forum hosted by the Escondido Human Rights Committee, a grass-roots immigrant and human rights group. Speakers from several organizations said they plan to fight the rental ban in court and by educating people about their rights.

"The U.S. Constitution protects all persons, every person," said Kevin Keenan, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of San Diego and Imperial Counties, told the predominantly Latino crowd at the workshop.

At the press conference, Kristina Campbell, an attorney with the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, said she believes the law faces too many practical and legal obstacles to be effective.

"Not only will there be legal challenges," Campbell said. "It is doubtful the ordinance as currently drafted is even enforceable."

About one dozen representatives from the ACLU, the Fair Housing Council of San Diego, the local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and La Raza Lawyers Association joined Campbell to decry the law. The event was organized by El Grupo, an umbrella organization of civil and Latino rights groups.

Over the last week, thousands of fliers printed in Spanish have been distributed explaining tenants' rights and urging individuals to call the Fair Housing Council if they feel those rights have been violated.

At the forum, representatives of various organizations explained the terms of the ordinance and explained that it is not in effect and would likely be challenged if it is approved by the city council. One man said his landlord told him he would not renew his lease until after the ordinance is resolved one way or the other.

"If they are treating you differently (than other tenants) because of your nationality ... talk to us so that we can investigate that," said David Kline, an attorney with the Fair Housing Council.

Arnoldo Marin, a community activist from San Marcos, said undocumented immigrants already have a tough time renting homes. He said the ordinance will make it tougher not just on those who are in the country illegally, but all Latinos, whom he said landlords will view with suspicion.

"This is very discriminatory," Marin said. "More than 40 percent of the people are Latino in Escondido."

As written, the city would investigate written complaints filed against landlords accused of renting to illegal immigrants. Complaints based primarily on race, ethnicity or national origin would be dismissed, the ordinance states.

Landlords responding to complaints would have to provide the city with tenants' immigration documents, which would be passed along to the federal government for verification.

Landlords found to be renting to illegal immigrants would have 10 business days to remove the tenants, or face penalties, including having their business license suspended and fines of up to $1,000 and six months in jail.

Two weeks ago, the council voted 3-2 to approve the rental ban. The ordinance heads back to the council tonight for a second and final vote. If approved, as expected, the law would go into effect 30 days later on Nov. 18.

Civil rights groups, including the ACLU have vowed to challenge the constitutionality of the law and ask the city or the courts to delay its enforcement until all legal challenges have been decided.

Last time the council discussed the law, City Hall was flooded with rallies supporting both sides of the issue. Whether demonstrators will turn out in equal numbers tonight is uncertain, although police said they will have additional security measures in place.

One opponent of the law, retired Assistant Sheriff Bill Flores, the spokesman for El Grupo, said he is not asking people to come out and demonstrate against the law, arguing the council's vote is a foregone conclusion.

"Other avenues need to be explored," Flores said. "The politics of this issue may well be over, and I think we need to look at other ways of defeating this divisive and destructive issue."