Thread: Group seeks to block city's illegal immigrant ban

Sep 8, 4:50 PM EDT


Group seeks to block city's illegal immigrant ban

By ANABELLE GARAY
Associated Press Writer

DALLAS (AP) -- Opponents of a Dallas suburb's ordinance aimed at barring illegal immigrants from renting housing asked a federal judge Monday for a temporary restraining order to block its enforcement.

A group of landlords and a former city council member suing Farmers Branch over the ordinance are seeking to block the ordinance, which is set to take effect Saturday.

The ordinance would require prospective renters to obtain a city license. The city would then forward information from the license application to the federal government for verification of the person's immigration status.

Anyone who couldn't prove legal U.S. residency would be denied tenants licenses, and the city would penalize landlords who rent to people without a valid license.

Opponents say the city is trying to regulate immigration, which they say is the federal government's responsibility. They also say the ordinance doesn't include clear procedures and safeguards while placing liability on landlords, that it violates federal housing laws, and that it is part of an attempt to push out Hispanic residents.

Attorney Michael Jung, who represents Farmers Branch, said the city will oppose the request.

"The entire purpose of this ordinance is to encourage and prevent illegal immigrant from living in Farmers Branch," Jung said. "We don't think that its going to be significant burden to people who are legitimate and want to rent in Farmers Branch."

Last month, U.S. District Judge Sam A. Lindsay struck down as unconstitutional a ban that would have required Farmers Branch apartment operators to verify whether prospective tenants were living in the country legally.

The city's new ordinance, which was to take effect 15 days after Lindsay's final ruling, was designed to fix the flaws the judge pointed out in his ruling.


http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/I/ ... SECTION=US

"Opponents say the city is trying to regulate immigration, which they say is the federal government's responsibility"

I say, upholding the laws of the USA is the duty of every cirtizen of this country. I do not need some alien telling us who is responsible for upholding American law.

The opponents are basing their argument on -very- shaky ground.

Opponents say the city is trying to regulate immigration,

YOU BET THEY ARE! ILLEGAL ALIENS ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THE COUNTRY, SO WHY ON EARTH SHOULD THEY BE PERMITTED TO HAVE A LEASE AND LIVE HERE?