Thread: Hickory Creek OKs resolution aimed at illegal immigrants

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent ... 9ddbc.html

Hickory Creek OKs resolution aimed at illegal immigrants

Town attorney cautioned against political statement


06:42 AM CDT on Wednesday, October 18, 2006

By PEGGY HEINKEL-WOLFE / Denton Record-Chronicle

HICKORY CREEK – Town leaders joined Farmers Branch in taking a stand against illegal immigration by passing a resolution Tuesday night encouraging the federal government to enforce its immigration laws.

The council unanimously ventured into the debate despite the reservations of the town attorney, who cautioned council members against taking up matters outside their normal course of business. Council member Rick Fengler left for a family emergency just before deliberations on the resolution began.

Of about 20 people present during the course of the meeting, no one spoke out for or against the resolution. Council member Richard Baker questioned briefly why the item was on the agenda, given the lack of interest.

"It's not to say I don't support it," Mr. Baker said. "But I haven't had any feedback on it. We really don't think it ... has any impact."

Mayor Pro Tem Randy Wahl said that as local governments pass such resolutions, momentum might push national leaders to do what is needed.

"Maybe they will do what's right for both the illegal aliens and us," Mr. Wahl said.

City leaders in Farmers Branch passed a similar resolution in September after realizing they might not be able to enforce an ordinance limiting where illegal immigrants live and work in the city.

Ordinances in Hazelton, Pa., and Palm Bay, Fla., face lawsuits in federal court over rules that punish businesses that hire illegal immigrants, fine landlords who lease property to them and make English the official language.

A Washington, D.C., public interest group, the Federation for American Immigration Reform, helped with those ordinances and continues to work with Farmers Branch officials on a possible ordinance there.

Town Attorney Philip Mack Furlow told the council the resolution was written as a benign political statement with no enforcement provisions, so the town would not immediately risk a lawsuit as Hazelton and Palm Bay have.

But he said the council opened the door to a legal liability for other groups that want to use the town as a staging ground for political statements.

"You may have people approaching you, demanding to be on your agenda," Mr. Furlow said. "You run the risk of folks coming out of the woodwork."

"Maybe they will do what's right for both the illegal aliens and us," Mr. Wahl said.

Say what!?!?!? Do what is right for the illegal aliens?

W

I'm glad Texas is starting to stand up. That's 4 cities now moving in the right direction.

Dixie