Thread: Nebraska Voters Get to Vote No to Illegal Renters

Signatures OK'd in Neb. city immigration petition
By JEAN ORTIZWednesday, Mar 25, 2009 - 02:46:40 pm CDT
OMAHA, Neb. - Voters in Fremont might get the chance to vote on a contentious proposal seeking to curb illegal immigration, now that a county official has verified some 3,300 petition signatures.

A letter released Wednesday from Dodge County Clerk Fred Mytty to Fremont Mayor Skip Edwards said Mytty stopped the process after verifying 3,343 of the more than 4,100 signatures turned in. About 3,000 valid signatures were needed to force a special election, which would take place this summer.

If approved by voters, the measure would bar anyone in Fremont from hiring or renting to illegal immigrants.

The council voted down a similar ordinance last summer.

City leaders have taken steps to block the proposal from being put before voters.

They have asked a court to determine whether the city can legally enact the proposed ordinance. Fremont officials argue that the city lacks such authority because the proposed ordinance would be pre-empted by federal law, would not provide sufficient safeguards to protect constitutional property rights and would violate the Fair Housing Act.

City leaders revised their argument this week, adding that the proposed ordinance isn't fit for the initiative process because it addresses several subjects. The proposal includes provisions against "harboring" and hiring illegal immigrants.

Kris Kobach, the Kansas City, Mo.-based attorney representing the petition organizers, said Wednesday that the city has prematurely asked for the court's opinion and doesn't have grounds to challenge the initiative in that way until after voters approve it.

"There's always the possibility the people might vote no," he said.

Kobach said he will ask the court on Monday to dismiss the matter.

The proposed ordinance has stirred strong opinions in the eastern Nebraska city of 25,000. Fremont is among a handful of Nebraska cities that have seen marked demographic changes primarily because of Hispanic work forces at meatpacking plants.

Supporters of the local measures say they're needed to make up for what they see as lax enforcement by federal officials.

Opponents say they fear such legislation could fuel discrimination and spur costly legal challenges for the city.

Associated Press Writer Margery A. Gibbs contributed to this report.

A service of the Associated Press(AP)

I hope the measure goes through!

Maybe they'll get smart and do the same thing here in Grand Island!?

Well, this sounds awfully similar to the ordinance put forth in Farmers Branch, and that has been shot down and tied up in the courts without ever taking effect.

I would LOVE to see this go through, but you know the deep pockets of the opposition will tear this apart in the courts with the "only the Federal Government can determine who is illegal or now" arguement.

TexasGal