Thread: FB: Voters approve ordinance that bans renting to illegal im

Voters approve ordinance that bans renting to illegal immigrants


Associated Press - May 12, 2007 11:15 PM ET

Voters in Farmer's Branch became the first in the nation today to prohibit landlords from renting to most illegal immigrants.

The ban was approved by a vote of 68% to 32%, with two-thirds of precincts reporting.

Councilman Tim O'Hare, the ordinance's lead proponent, says it sends Congress a message: that if they don't do something about illegal immigration, cities will.

Opponents plan to seek a restraining order to stop the city from enforcing it and try to get the case to trial.

Council members first approved the ban in November without discussion, taking comment from the public only after their vote, saying the federal government has failed to address illegal immigration. Councilman Tim O'Hare, the ordinance's lead proponent, contends the city's economy and quality of life will improve if illegal immigrants are kept out.

Since then, Farmers Branch has become the site of protests and angry confrontations.

The City Council revised the ordinance in January to include the exemptions for minors, seniors and some mixed-status families.

Opponents of the regulation gathered enough signatures to force the city to put the measure on the municipal election ballot.

http://www.kltv.com/global/story.asp?s=6507347

Ding dong, the witch is dead...

We can put this on the ballot ACROSS THE COUNTRY!!!

What are 'they' going to do, take away our right to vote?

Added to the homepage! Notice going out to our supporters now!

http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=N ... e&sid=2152

Opponents of the regulation gathered enough signatures to force the city to put the measure on the municipal election ballot.

And look what their efforts got them!! The citizens of Farmer's Branch got a clue and said "ENOUGH!!!" When will Washington get their own clue??

Thrilling news!!

Video at this link.
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Farmers Branch Immigration Ordinance Gets Strong Support

Last Edited: Saturday, 12 May 2007, 9:45 PM CDT
Created: Saturday, 12 May 2007, 2:44 PM CDT

FARMERS BRANCH, Texas --
A controversial ordinance to ban Farmers Branch apartment owners from renting to illegal immigrants is winning wide support. With 66% of precincts reporting, 68% of voters in the Dallas suburb are in favor of the measure.


Since the City Council approved the ban in November, Farmers Branch has become the site of protests and angry confrontations.

"The thing that strikes me most about it, is just the level of emotion, the level of frustration regarding the whole immigration issue," said Cal Jillson, a political science professor at Southern Methodist University.

More than 90 local governments around the nation have proposed similar measures, but Farmers Branch is the first to put the issue to a public vote.

The regulation facing voters Saturday requires apartment managers to verify that renters are U.S. citizens or legal immigrants before leasing to them. Minors and people 62 and over are exempt from having to prove their immigration status or citizenship. Families that include both citizens and illegal immigrants could lease if they meet certain conditions.

Even if voters approved the ban Saturday, opponents planned to seek a restraining order to stop the city from enforcing it and try to get the case to trial.

Council members accepted comment from the public only after their vote in November, saying the federal government has failed to address illegal immigration. Councilman Tim O'Hare, the ordinance's lead proponent, contends the city's economy and quality of life will improve if illegal immigrants are kept out.

The council revised the ordinance in January to include the exemptions for minors, seniors and some mixed-status families.

However, opponents of the regulation gathered enough signatures to force the city to put the measure on the municipal election ballot.

The city was already facing four lawsuits brought by civil rights groups, residents, property owners and businesses who contend the ordinance discriminates and that it places landlords in the precarious position of acting as federal immigration officers. Their attorneys say the ordinance attempts to regulate immigration, a duty that is exclusively the federal government's. One lawsuit also alleges the council violated the state open meetings act when deciding on the ordinance.

Local proposals aimed at regulating illegal immigration often fail to pass constitutional muster, said Muzaffar Chishti, director of the Migration Policy Institute office at New York University School of Law.

"There is significant frustration, so that's what's driving it," Chishti said. "But the simple fact is they cannot do too much other than impress upon the Congress the need for immigration reform."

http://link.toolbot.com/myfoxdfw.com/78773

Posted in the United Kingdom right away too.
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Anti-Illegal-Immigrant Law OK'd in Texas

Sunday May 13, 2007 4:31 AM


By ANABELLE GARAY

Associated Press Writer

FARMERS BRANCH, Texas (AP) - Voters in this Dallas suburb Saturday overwhelmingly approved a measure banning landlords from renting to most illegal immigrants, in the first public vote on any of the more than 90 measures local governments around the country have proposed to crack down on illegal immigration.

With two-thirds of precincts reporting, the measure had 68 percent support, with 32 percent opposed. It requires apartment managers to verify that renters are U.S. citizens or legal immigrants before leasing to them, with some exceptions.

``It says especially to Congress that we're tired of the out-of-control illegal immigration problem. That if Congress doesn't do something about it, cities will,'' said Tim O'Hare, a City Council member who was the ordinance's lead proponent.

Council members approved the ordinance in November, then revised it in January to include exemptions for minors, seniors and some families with a mix of legal residents and illegal immigrants.

Farmers Branch has become the site of protests and angry confrontations, and opponents of the regulation gathered enough signatures to force the city to put the measure on the municipal election ballot.

With Saturday's approval of the ban, opponents plan to fight it in court, and will seek a restraining order to stop the city from enforcing it.

The city was already facing four lawsuits brought by civil rights groups, residents, property owners and businesses who contend the ordinance discriminates and that it places landlords in the precarious position of acting as federal immigration officers. Their attorneys say the ordinance attempts to regulate immigration, a duty that is exclusively the federal government's. One lawsuit also alleges the council violated the state open meetings act when deciding on the ordinance.

O'Hare contends the city's economy and quality of life will improve if illegal immigrants are kept out.

Local proposals aimed at regulating illegal immigration often fail to pass constitutional muster, said Muzaffar Chishti, director of the Migration Policy Institute office at New York University School of Law.

``There is significant frustration, so that's what's driving it,'' Chishti said. ``But the simple fact is they cannot do too much other than impress upon the Congress the need for immigration reform.''

The Farmers Branch measure exempts minors and people 62 and over from having to prove their immigration status or citizenship. Families that include citizens and illegal-immigrant members can lease housing if they meet three conditions: they're already tenants, heads of households or spouses are legally in the U.S., and the family includes only a spouse, their minor children or parents.


http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/s ... 78,00.html

I watched the video from the news site. The opposition says it will continue the fight with lawsuits in the courts.

What nerve! They should just accept defeat and back their bags!

WOO HOO!!

I saw the news footage where they were interviewing one of the councilmen and he says they are not going to take these lawsuits lying down and will go all the way to the Supreme Court to defend the rights of it's citizens!!!

Do you all remember just a bit ago, the thread started by the troll who said we all should just give up, that "they" were going to get their amnesty and that we would lose?

Well I have just one thing to say to him "IN YOUR FACE!"



Bow down to the masters all ye OBLer's!!!!!!!