Thread: Good Things Happening in PA.

http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.d ... /-1/NEWS01

Spreading: Immigrant crackdown catches fire throughout eastern Pa.

MICHAEL RUBINKAM
Associated Press Writer
July 29, 2006

ALLENTOWN — More than a half-dozen communities in eastern Pennsylvania have either passed or are considering crackdowns on illegal immigrants similar to the one approved by the city of Hazleton earlier this month.

Although the Hazleton measure will almost certainly face a legal challenge, officials in nearby municipalities said they want to discourage illegal immigrants who leave Hazleton from settling in their towns.

"If you don't go along with what's happening, you're putting the bulls-eye right on your borough," said Jerry Teter, manager of Mahanoy City, a former coal town about 15 miles from Hazleton that is about to approve its own illegal immigrant law.

Hazleton, a northeastern Pennsylvania city of about 31,000, approved one of the toughest measures of its kind in the United States earlier this month, imposing $1,000 fines on landlords who rent to undocumented immigrants, denying business permits to companies that give them jobs and making English the city's official language.

Its mayor, Lou Barletta, has said that he proposed the law because illegal immigrants are committing crimes and draining city resources. It's not clear how many illegal immigrants live in Hazleton, but the city's Hispanic population has skyrocketed in recent years.

The Hazleton measure prompted officials in West Mahanoy Township, Shenandoah, Ashland, Frackville, Mount Pocono and Hazle Township to draft similar laws. Hazle Township, which borders Hazleton, has already approved its ordinance; votes in the other communities are expected soon.

"It's about taking somebody's good idea and acting on it," said Dan McDavitt, a councilman in Mount Pocono. "It's been a long-standing problem that the federal and state governments across the country have been failing to deal with."

Officials in a number of other places, including Allentown, Tamaqua, Wilkes-Barre Township, Sunbury, McAdoo and Lansford, have also discussed measures ranging from making English the official language to adopting broader Hazleton-style ordinances.

Critics who contend that such efforts are divisive include Gov. Ed Rendell, who has called the Hazleton ordinance and similar crackdowns on illegal immigrants the "mean-spirited" work of politicians who "feed off hate and divisiveness."

The Congressional Research Service, a nonpartisan agency that writes reports for lawmakers, recently said that federal law likely precludes Hazleton and other municipalities from making their own immigration laws. At least one lawsuit is being prepared that will attempt to overturn the Hazleton ordinance.

"I don't think local government can usurp federal powers, and this is not a power set down in the state borough code," said Shelley Houk, research director for the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs. "These laws are probably going to be overturned."

That is the fear of White Haven Councilman Herb Albee, whose motion last month to direct the borough solicitor to draft a Hazleton-style ordinance was later tabled.

"We're waiting to see whether it stands up in court," Albee said. "Hazleton's going to be the test case."

But Albee's might be the minority view.

"This is going to be snowballing across the area," said Teter, the Mahanoy City official. "As they move out of Hazleton, they're looking for places to go that don't have the ordinance."

Originally Posted by had_enuf

Critics who contend that such efforts are divisive include Gov. Ed Rendell, who has called the Hazleton ordinance and similar crackdowns on illegal immigrants the "mean-spirited" work of politicians who "feed off hate and divisiveness."

Gee, Gov. Rendell, did you forget your oath of office too? That must be the case cause you're sure throwing around a lot of "mean-spirited" and "divisive" words.

What's mean-spirited and divisive is the illegal alien invasion!!

Rendell and the rest of Democratic up here welcome illegals with open arms because they see votes for their party. Casey supports amensty for illegals.

Same situation with the mayor of Scranton, PA. "I welcome immigrants in the City of Scranton." In the south side of Scranton the illegals are beginning to move in and the old residents are moving out. To much noise and drugs being distriubuted in neighborhoods that were once quiet places to live. Some politicians just don't get it.

Originally Posted by Posie

Some politicians just don't get it.

Maybe we should move some of the politicians into those neighborhoods???

Critics who contend that such efforts are divisive include Gov. Ed Rendell, who has called the Hazleton ordinance and similar crackdowns on illegal immigrants the "mean-spirited" work of politicians who "feed off hate and divisiveness."

That's enough to get me to vote against him!

Welcome bsb. Always a pleasure to meet a voter.

Originally Posted by bsb

Critics who contend that such efforts are divisive include Gov. Ed Rendell, who has called the Hazleton ordinance and similar crackdowns on illegal immigrants the "mean-spirited" work of politicians who "feed off hate and divisiveness."

That's enough to get me to vote against him!

I guess he is trying to get voted out of office.