http://www.timesleader.com/mld/timesleader/14832003.htm

Posted on Fri, Jun. 16, 2006


IMMIGRATION
Hazleton nears law on illegals
Council passes first reading of ordinance calling for hiring and rental regulations, and English as city’s official language.

By MICHAEL P. BUFFER mbuffer@leader.net

“Because people … need a place to sleep, our landlords are our first line of defense.”

Mayor Lou Barletta


HAZLETON – After a lively debate, city council on Thursday voted for an ordinance that would establish English as the city’s official language and punish the hiring of illegal immigrants and renting property to them.

The 4-1 vote was on a first reading of the ordinance. A second reading is scheduled for July 13.

Councilman Tom Gabos voted against. Councilman Robert Nilles voted for the ordinance but said he wanted to amend it to require landlords to rent only to tenants with city-approved permits.

The ordinance requires landlords to see documentation that tenants are legally in the U.S. before renting property. Nilles said the city could do a better job of checking if tenants are illegal immigrants.

“There are no teeth in the law,” Nilles said. “I want to make it more enforceable.”

Under the ordinance, anyone who knowingly allows an illegal alien to use, rent or lease their property would face a fine of at least $1,000.

“Because people moving into the city naturally need a place to sleep, our landlords are our first line of defense,” said Mayor Lou Barletta, reading a nine-page statement at the beginning of Thursday’s meeting.

Barletta said he proposed the ordinance this week because many of the city’s new residents are illegal immigrants. Hazleton’s population has spiked from 23,000 to 31,000 in six years because of an influx of Hispanics.

Barletta said he doesn’t know how many of the new residents are illegal immigrants, but he noted illegal immigrants allegedly are responsible for a variety of recent crimes, including a homicide May 10 on East Chestnut Street.

About 50 people attended Thursday’s meeting, and about half of them applauded after Barletta read his opening statement.

Several speakers, including Leo Cordero and Anna Arias, opposed Barletta’s proposed ordinance.

“Please don’t close off the door,” said Cordero, an immigrant from the Dominican Republic.

Barletta asked Cordero if he was an illegal alien. Cordero started to cite his Social Security number then stopped in response to reactions from people in the meeting room.

Arias said she is “really offended” by the ordinance and said it “will haunt” Barletta.

“I support you mayor,” a man in the crowd responded.

Under the ordinance, the city would reject a business permit, the renewal of a business permit and city contracts or grants for a period of at least five years from a business’s last offense – hiring or attempting to hire an illegal alien, renting or leasing to illegal aliens, or funding or aiding in the establishment of a day-laborer center that does not verify legal work status.

By making English the city’s official language, all city communication, including signs and forms, could be only in English – unless it violates an explicit federal mandate.

“It really saddens me,” said Natalia Gomez, who told council her children are learning to speak multiple languages.