Thread: Extremism sinks immigration reform

Extremism sinks immigration reform

By Domenico Maceri
Article Launched:12/03/2006 08:55:43 PM PST


`ILLEGAL immigrants are destroying the city" and "I don't want them here," stated Louis J. Barletta, mayor of Hazleton, Pennsylvania.

Barletta did something about the situation. He spearheaded a vote in the City Council to pass an ordinance which made Hazleton the most unwelcoming city in the country.

The ordinance, called the Illegal Immigration Relief Act, was passed by a vote of 4 to 1 in the city council. It makes it illegal for anyone in the city to employ, aid or abet illegal immigrants and may impose fines of $1,000 a day to any landlord renting to illegal immigrants.

The ordinance also requires that all city business must be conducted in English.

There is only one problem. The ordinance is probably illegal and is in all likelihood going to be thrown out by the courts. The Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund has already filed a lawsuit against the city.

That matters little to Barletta. The new law is having the city's desired impact since unauthorized immigrants are already leaving Hazleton. So even if the legal battle manages to reach the Supreme Court, Barletta will have won because, by that time, many if not most illegal immigrants will be gone from Hazleton.

In addition to that, another twenty or so communities across the U.S. have either passed similar ordinances or are considering doing it. Another "victory" for Hazleton and Barletta.
And similar lawsuits are also propping up. The National Coalition of Latino Clergy and Christian Leaders filed a lawsuit against Riverside Township, New Jersey, which has also passed an ordinance preventing illegal immigrants from holding jobs and renting property.

Both lawsuits against the two city governments claim that immigration laws are a federal mandate and city governments should deal with local issues.

It's quite likely that the lawsuits will be successful. A 1976 Supreme Court decision made clear that immigration is the "exclusive" power of the federal government.

Proposition 187, passed by California voters in 1994, which denied benefits to undocumented workers, was eventually struck down by the courts.

Immigration laws passed by local or state government reflect a strong anger against undocumented workers.

In Hazleton, the ordinance may have been instigated by a crime allegedly committed by an undocumented worker.

The anger against undocumented workers also reaches state legislatures. Georgia and Colorado recently passed strong laws against undocumented workers.

But even the federal government has acted on this emotion. In December of 2005, the House of Representatives passed HR 4437, commonly known as the Sensenbrenner bill, which reflects the anger seen in local and state government laws.

The bill is extremist and is based on the simple premise that undocumented workers broke the law and deserve no compassion. The major feature is the change of illegal entry into the U.S. from a violation of civil immigration law into a federal crime. The House bill turns undocumented workers into criminals and even has provisions to punish Americans who provide any form of aid to them. The House bill was passed largely along party lines with the GOP voting "yes" and Democrats opposing it.

Six months later the U.S. Senate passed its own version of immigration reform. The Senate bill is somewhat bipartisan since it passed 62-36, with 38 Democrats, 23 Republicans and one Independent voting for it.

It's a much more measured approach to immigration which does not reflect anger and has the support of President George Bush.

Making laws that deal with international issues requires a certain distance from the subject matter as well as cool heads.

Local governments should deal with issues affecting the needs of local citizens within their jurisdiction.

But when the national government fails to act, local governments will give it a try, but unfortunately will fail.

The result is frustration for everyone and a dangerous situation for the desperate undocumented workers who are the weakest members of our society.

dmaceri@gmail.com

Domenico Maceri teaches foreign languages at Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria, Calif.

http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/opinions/ci_4766267

Undocumented workers who are the weakest members of our society?

Since when is an illegal alien a member of our society?
Does that mean if a guy breaks into my home and rapes my wife he is now a family member?

There is only one problem. The ordinance is probably illegal and is in all likelihood going to be thrown out by the courts. The Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund has already filed a lawsuit against the city.

On CNN last night they said that they are accepting donations to help fight the legal battle. The highest donation was 10,000 by a restaraunt owner. I don't recall the total number of the donations but I'm thinking around $60,000 so far. They said a lot of people have been sending small donations of $10 - $20 in.

If I was an attorney I would be giving pro bono services just to see the ACLU, La Raza and any other group such as these do down in flames.
That would be worth more than any amount of money.