Reaction to Immigration Ruling



Thursday, July 26, UDPATED: 6:02 p.m.
By Bianca Barr

Residents and city leaders in Hazleton are reacting to a federal judge's ruling striking down the city's Illegal Immigration Act.

Late Thursday afternoon members of the group who filed the lawsuit and Mayor Lou Barletta, who created the ordinance, spoke about the ruling.

There were two news conferences held back-back in the city of Hazleton to comment on the judge's ruling in federal court.

With word of the federal court ruling that Hazleton's Illegal Immigration Relief Act is unconstitutional, members of the local Latino community celebrated what they called a victory for all immigrants who have moved to Hazleton.

But within the comments, the tension still was evident as they talked about why this issue had to get this far and whether the ruling with change what they call a negative mind-set of some of their neighbors.

"Did we really win? People are still being treated disrespectfully and without dignity," said Anna Arias of the Hazleton Latino Association.

They talked about the need for Hazleton to heal and move forward from today with a positive outlook. They said they want people of all races to work together to find some type of harmony.

"This is the beginning of the healing we have to do with the community. The community has to come back together. They have to settle their differences and work for the better of the community," said Hispanic leader Agipito Lopez.

At Hazleton City Hall about 4:30 p.m. Mayor Lou Barletta vowed to appeal, saying he was disappointed in the ruling. "This judge's decision today is not the end. The people of Hazleton need to know that I will do everything I can to make Hazleton the toughest city in America for illegal aliens," Mayor Barletta said.

They city attorneys said the ruling begs for an appeal and said the judge's interpretation of the law will not hold up in the Third Circuit Court of Appeal in Philadelphia.

"If the judge had written a tight, closely-reasoned opinion that didn't venture too far out on the limb, that would be a hard case to appeal but this judge has written an opinion that goes to extraordinary lengths to find fault with the city's ordinance and this makes for a perfect appeal," said Kris Kobach, Hazleton lead attorney. The city has 30 days to file that appeal.

Mayor Barletta said he wants both the borders and the towns of the United States secured. "Since the federal government has refused to protect us, I have an obligation as an elected official of the people of this city to do that and I'm not going to stop. I'm going to continue to fight for them and I'm going to be as vocal today, tomorrow and next year as I have been the last year fighting illegal immigration," Barletta said.

Members of local Hispanic community pleaded with the mayor to let this decision be the end but obviously that is not the case. It is clear that the immigration issue is far from over.

http://www.wnep.com/global/story.asp?s=6846076