Thread: Checking Renters for Illegals

Federal database can't be used to check renters' legal status
Edythe Jensen
The Arizona Republic
Aug. 7, 2007 12:05 PM

City councilman Jeff Weninger's suggestion that Chandler use a federal employer database to check immigration status of displaced renters isn't legal, said Marie Thérèse Sebrechts, spokeswoman for U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Service.

Last week Weninger wrote a memo urging the city to consider more thorough investigations of immigration status before it pays housing relocation benefits to people displaced by municipal building projects. Weninger, a restaurant owner, said he like all Arizona business owners will be required to use the Basic Pilot Program to check new hires' immigration status as of Jan. 1. "Perhaps this same system could be used to determine whether renters of the property that we acquire are eligible for relocation benefits," he said.

Sebrechts said the program, which verifies Social Security information and work status, can be used only by employers to check new hires. Although Chandler could use it in municipal hiring, the city cannot legally use the data to verify renters' residency, she said.

Weninger said he knew there could be restrictions on the federal program but he isn't abandoning his push and will ask the city to look for other means of verification.

"I want to protect taxpayer money. All Chandler is doing now is asking them (renters) 'are you this person?' and to sign a piece of paper. We can do more than that," he said.

Some Hispanic community leaders said the councilman's proposal is divisive and could undo years of goodwill in a community where one in four residents is Hispanic.

Weninger said he is disappointed that his proposal has become controversial and he plans to seek a meeting with critic Alberto Esparza, founder and executive director of the Chandler-based Si Se Puede! Foundation.

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/ ... e0808.html

PERHAPS WE SHOULD LOBBY FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS.

Good story. Would love to see a nationwide story on the use of HUD subsidized housing nationwide. This is a true employer perk.

If many illegals lost this housing in Colorado they would have to leave. In some mountain towns and denver they could not afford to live.

I bet it is the same in many areas of the country.

I think we're all looking and hoping for the same thing...
that the tax-payer-funded, government-subsidized benifits being received by the illegal aliens be stopped.

Local grassroots organizations need to band together and make it happen!!!

The numbers of people from here need to unite in one voice, and make it happen!!!

This is what is confusing to me. If illegals are not eligible to receive services, then obviously they are required to provide documentation that they are here legally and nothing should be approved until their status is verified.

It seems to me that there should be some kind of data base that is available to check that information.....or there was supposed to be until this administration just decided to let Mexico and illegals try to take over.

They really need to get this all ironed out and block all avenues for illegals to continue committing the crimes they're getting away with. This is ridiculous.