Thread: Farmer's Branch sued again over illegal immigration stance

Feb. 5, 2008, 3:41PM
Suit filed over Dallas suburb's illegal immigrant ordinance
By ANABELLE GARAY Associated Press Writer
© 2008 The Associated Press

FARMERS BRANCH, Texas — A lawsuit was filed Tuesday over this Dallas suburb's latest effort to keep out illegal immigrants by barring home rentals to people who can't prove their legal status.

The suit, filed on behalf of real estate broker Guillermo Ramos, alleges the Farmers Branch City Council violated the Texas Open Meetings Act when it drafted and approved the new rule late last month.

The law requires prospective tenants to get a city license to rent houses and apartments. It was set to take effect 15 days after a ruling on a similar ordinance currently being contested in court.

Opponents allege that while the council was supposed to discuss legal challenges against a previous ordinance, it actually drafted a new, more sweeping anti-illegal immigration measure behind closed doors, according to the suit.

City spokesman Tom Bryson did not immediately return a call seeking comment on the suit Tuesday.

There also were only a few days for residents to analyze and deliberate the proposal, opponents say.

Council members didn't announce until five days before they were to meet that a new ordinance had been drawn up. It wasn't posted on the city's Web site until the Friday before the council met. The following Tuesday, the council approved the measure unanimously, without changing a word of the proposal.

Farmers Branch's efforts to pass immigration-related laws began nearly two years ago.

Council members unanimously passed a 2006 ordinance barring apartment rentals to illegal immigrants. The rule was revised last year to include exemptions for minors, seniors and some mixed-immigration status families. Residents endorsed the law 2-to-1 in May during the nation's first public vote on a local government measure meant to combat illegal immigration.

A federal judge blocked Farmers Branch from enforcing its ordinance after finding that city officials tried to regulate immigration differently from the federal government. The case remains in court

The city then hired a law firm and consulted with University of Missouri law professor Kris Kobachto to rework the ban and address the challenges to it. They came up with the latest ordinance.

Farmers Branch faces a court challenge by apartment landlords and advocacy groups who say the previous ordinance was unconstitutional. Ramos also sued over the city's original rental ban, also contending the council violated open meetings laws.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/5515430.html

Any of you live in the areas where Guillermo Ramos operates,let us know about him.Does he hire illegals,harbor them,rnet to them?Expose this vampire to the rest of our viewers!