Thread: Hazleton puts a price tag on illegal immigration

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-cit ... 1633.story

March 6, 2007
Hazleton puts a price tag on illegal immigration

City lists costs in court papers filed in defense of new law. Federal trial starts Monday.

By Matt Birkbeck Of The Morning Call

An influx of immigrants -- some of them illegal -- fueled an economic boom in Hazleton, but also triggered startling increases in crime and costly demands for law enforcement and education, attorneys for the city say in new court documents.

One-third of all drug arrests in Hazleton in 2005 involved illegal immigrants, the documents say, and each time an illegal immigrant uses a hospital emergency room it costs taxpayers $2,000.

The ''proposed findings of fact'' were submitted Monday, a week before the start of a federal nonjury trial to determine the legality of Hazleton's ordinance curbing illegal immigrants.

The ordinance, approved by city leaders last fall but opposed in a civil lawsuit, seeks to impose heavy fines on landlords who rent to illegal immigrants and businesses that hire them.

The lawsuit, filed on behalf of several residents, Hispanic groups and the American Civil Liberties Union, claims the ordinance violates the U.S. Constitution by interfering with the federal

government's power to regulate immigration.

David Vaida, an Allentown attorney working with the legal team for the plaintiffs, said the city's ''findings'' may be true, but they can't be attributed solely to illegal immigrants.

''They can't trace any of that to undocumented aliens, which is the whole issue here,'' Vaida said.

The legal filing places blame for many of the city's social burdens on immigrants in general, and singles out illegal immigrants for certain specific problems.

The city doesn't spell out why the average emergency room wait is ''5-6 hours, if not longer,'' or say whether legal or illegal immigrants are responsible for the city's financial burden for English as a Second Language training. That program, which cost $500 and had three volunteer teachers in 2000, cost $1.145 million in 2006.

But the city's filing specifically blames illegal immigrants for their role in several violent crimes over the past two years, one of which cost police $17,000 in overtime.

The city also claims that one-third of its police overtime budget for 2007 has already been expended on investigations of crimes involving illegal immigrants, and that the city has experienced a rise in street gang activity, counting among its gangs the Bloods, Crips, Latin Kings, Dominicans Don't Play and MS-13.

A coal mining city for more than a century, Hazleton says in the filing that over the past decade it experienced an ''economic revival'' from the development of light manufacturing businesses. They in turn spawned the growth of entry level and minimum wage jobs filled by immigrants from eastern Europe and Latin America. Inexpensive housing helped draw immigrant laborers.

But that growth, the city says, came with an increase in arrests of people who ''were either illegal immigrants or had no papers or documents'' to prove they were legally in the United States.

Hazleton's proposed ordinance set off a national debate on illegal immigration, with small cities across the country seeking or considering similar legislation.

Allentown City Council could vote Wednesday on whether to ask voters in May if they want city police trained to enforce federal immigration laws. A council committee opposes such a referendum, saying evidence linking illegal immigrants to problems is lacking.

Hazleton sought to implement its ordinance in October 2006, but U.S. District Judge James M. Munley granted a temporary restraining order prohibiting it at the request of the plaintiffs.

In granting the motion, Munley said the city's claims of a correlation between a rising crime rate and the presence of illegal immigrants were ''vague'' and that the lawsuit not only raised ''serious'' concerns about the new law, but had a ''reasonable probability'' of success.

The trial is scheduled to begin Monday in Scranton.

matthew.birkbeck@mcall.com

610-820-6581

SHOWDOWN IN COURT The constitutionality of Hazleton's bid

to crack down on illegal immigrants

goes to trial Monday in Scranton.

Case: Pedro Lozano, et al v. the

City of Hazleton.

At issue: Several Hazleton residents and Hispanic groups, along with the American Civil Liberties Union, filed suit to rescind an ordinance that would impose heavy fines on landlords who rent to illegal immigrants and businesses that hire them.

Where: Nonjury trial begins Monday morning at the William J. Nealon Federal Building in Scranton before U.S. District Judge James M. Munley.

33%

Of all drug arrests in

Hazleton in 2005 involved illegal immigrants

added to the homepage

http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=N ... e&sid=1988

Munley another pro-illegal judge. With him as the judge Hazleton is going to have a tough time of it.

2 grand for an ER visit and the taxpayer gets the bill so much for "Free Care" just another way illegal aliens suck the blood from America

One-third of all drug arrests in Hazleton in 2005 involved illegal immigrants, the documents say,

ONE THIRD?? THATS IT? WELL WHOSE ALL RESPONSIBLE FOR THE 2/3 OF THE DRUG ARRESTS THERE? WERE IS THE REPORT ON THOSE PPL?

If illegal aliens are a minority of the population but make up a high percentage of law breakers then per capita they represent a big problem.

Dixie

The ACLU has a way of always getting the judges they want don't they??? I just wonder how they manage that?

(Deleting a stupid welcome!)

Originally Posted by NEWBREED

One-third of all drug arrests in Hazleton in 2005 involved illegal immigrants, the documents say,

ONE THIRD?? THATS IT? WELL WHOSE ALL RESPONSIBLE FOR THE 2/3 OF THE DRUG ARRESTS THERE? WERE IS THE REPORT ON THOSE PPL?

Hmmmm, so how many is ONE THIRD?
Please come back when you have the number, ok?

also, while you're at it, bring back the percentage of INCREASED VIOLENT crime in Hazleton. OH! Shoot, and don't forget the increase in MURDERS.

then we can discuss your silly question.

Geez, we've got another kid who either skipped a ton of school or simply didn't go to school. When did you hop out of the sand box kid? Are you in long pants yet?