Thread: NJ - Riverside approves illegal immigrant ordinance

http://www.courierpostonline.com/apps/p ... 004/LIVING

Nov 22, 2006

Riverside approves illegal immigrant ordinance

By JIM WALSH
Courier-Post Staff


RIVERSIDE
The township committee, overcoming last minute opposition from Mayor Charles Hilton Jr., on Wednesday night approved a revised illegal-immigrant ordinance.

Hilton called for the committee to essentially kill the ordinance, which is the target of two lawsuits, so that the immigration issue could be considered by newly-elected committee members in 2007.

Hilton said it would be "morally and ethically wrong to ignore the views of the voters."

The Republican mayor and his running mate Committeeman James Ott, were easily defeated Nov. 7 by Democrats Lorraine Hatcher and Thomas Polino. The Democrats, who will have a 3-2 edge on the committee, do not take office until January.

But on Wednesday, committee members voted 4-1 to give final approval to the measure. Hilton cast the opposing vote.

In his remarks, Hilton said the revised ordinance should be tabled "with the intent that it should expire."

"I think our ordinance was the right thing to do and the problem still needs to be addressed," he said.

But several residents urged the committee to approve the measure.

"This town worked long and hard to get this passed." said resident Cristal Wirt.

"It's from grassroots measures like this that our nation is going to come together," said resident Keith Myers.

Hatcher, sitting in the audience, declined to comment.

Stephen Marino, a landlord, said the officials could use conventional ordinances to address what the township considers immigrant related problems, such as overcrowded housing.

The ordinance, which was approved in July, is not yet being enforced. It threatens fines of $1,000 to $2,000 for landlords who knowingly house illegal immigrants and employers who knowingly hire them.

A group of local businesspeople last month challenged the measure in state court, saying it's discriminatory, vague and unfair to local merchants.

The group's attorney, Jim Katz of Cherry Hill, contends the amended measure "suffers from the identical problems as the old ordinance. Specifically, municipalities in New Jersey lack the power to regulate immigration."

A Latino clergy group filed a federal lawsuit against the measure in August.

The amended ordinance is based on model language provided by the Immigration Reform Law Institute, a Washington, D.C., law firm that's expected to help Riverside in its legal battles. The institute is affiliated with the Federation for American Immigration Reform, which seeks to sharply reduce immigration levels.

Similar revisions are being adopted by other communities that have attempted to restrict illegal immigration, such as Hazleton, Pa., he said. The amended measure notes its restrictions are aimed at employers and landlords, not directly at illegal immigrants, and is not intended to restrict immigrants' access to emergency care or legal assistance.

Supporters in Riverside say the ordinance is needed to curb a growing population of illegal immigrants, many of them from Brazil. Hilton in July estimated up to 3,500 illegal immigrants lived here.

The revised ordinance also details the conditions it says are caused by the influx of immigrants. It contends illegal immigrants are victimized by landlords who allow overcrowded conditions.

The measure notes a fire in June forced about 20 immigrants to flee from a local Delaware Avenue home.

Great news!

GREAT NEWS!!!

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