Thread: BREAKING NEWS: JUDGE STRIKES DOWN HAZLETON ORDINANCE

BREAKING NEWS: JUDGE STRIKES DOWN HAZLETON ORDINANCE
Thursday, 26 July 2007
A federal judge has struck down the Illegal Immigration Relief Act, ruling Hazleton's proposed crackdown on landlords and employers doing business with illegal immigrants is unconstitutional. In a 206-page opinion, U.S. District Judge James M. Munley stated "federal law prohibits Hazleton from enforcing any of the provisions of its ordinance."

The ruling comes about four months after a nine-day trial concluded in Scranton federal court and a little more than a year since city council passed the ordinance punishing businesses that hire and landlords who rent to illegal immigrants. A separate provision making English the official language was written into a different ordinance and dropped from the lawsuit.

A previous court order issued by Munley has put Hazleton's ordinance on hold since November. Today's decision is expected to be appealed to Third Circuit Court in Philadelphia.

Hundreds of the municipalities around the country - and at least two dozen in Northeastern Pennsylvania - have considered or enacted laws mimicking the Hazleton ordinance, believed to have been the first of its kind passed in the country.

Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta proposed the ordinance in response to the high-profile May 10, 2006, murder of 29-year-old Derek Kichline, allegedly shot in the head by two illegal immigrants. But charges in the case were dropped earlier this month.

While many Hazleton residents applauded Barletta's stance, much of the city's large Latino population - estimated to be about 10,000 and growing - immediately reacted in protest, gathering on the steps of city hall the night the ordinance passed wearing shirts reading, "I'm Hispanic, not a criminal."


The American Civil Liberties Union and other advocacy groups challenged the ordinance in federal court on behalf of several residents and community groups, arguing it would lead to civil rights violations against Latinos and conflict with the federal government's sole authority to regulate immigration.

For continuous updates on the ruling in the Hazleton illegal immigration case, check www.standardspeaker.com throughout the day.
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I was afraid of this. If we're to have any chance at success in our battle against illegal immigration we're going to have to rid the federal bench of the many liberal judges sitting on it!

The only thing that works is going statewide with the 287(g) program. It's already federal law and the ACLU can't fight it. I feel bad for Hazelton. They fought long and hard.

They knew this judge was going to do this. He put Hazelton on hold and he has been writing that 206 page opinion for four months. That didn't happen in 9 days.

He probably had some writing assistance and people to check his work, just like the authors of the grand compromise had outsider help.

We are waiting on the announcement that Hazelton will appeal the decision. I think they have 30 days to appeal.

Dixie

The article says it's expected to be appealed to the 3rd Circuit Court in Philadelphia; take it all the way to the Supreme Court if needed but our local governments need to be able to deter illegal immigrants invading their towns and cities.

The judge probably had some hispanic group helping him to write it, just like the immigration reform bill - maybe even LaRaza!

This is disgusting, but we've seen EVERYWHERE that most of us U.S. citizens want to STOP this illegal crap - you don't hear anything about places (for the most part) who WANT it continued - maybe their government, but not the people!

We're at the mercy of the government which is supposed to represent us, not illegals. At some point, it might cause a really big backlash by the citizens of this country if these things continue, with illegals getting all these services, and the people paying for them.

Originally Posted by Dixie

They knew this judge was going to do this. He put Hazelton on hold and he has been writing that 206 page opinion for four months. That didn't happen in 9 days.

He probably had some writing assistance and people to check his work, just like the authors of the grand compromise had outsider help.

We are waiting on the announcement that Hazelton will appeal the decision. I think they have 30 days to appeal.

Dixie

right but he doesn't explain WHY it was illegal for them to do this, i'm sure his 206 page opinion is full of logical holes. This had better not have to go all the way to the Supreme Court but if it has to bring it on.
This idiot federal judge needs to have a heap load of illegals deposited in his home.

Originally Posted by cvangel

The article says it's expected to be appealed to the 3rd Circuit Court in Philadelphia; take it all the way to the Supreme Court if needed but our local governments need to be able to deter illegal immigrants invading their towns and cities.

How does the 3rd Circuit Court usually vote? Liberal? Are they likely to uphold this idiots "Opinion"?

Watch the Olymipia capital in Washington state real close , maybe we will see this judge and sutton meet on the front steps to fill out their life partner papers.

The article says it's expected to be appealed to the 3rd Circuit Court in Philadelphia; take it all the way to the Supreme Court if needed but our local governments need to be able to deter illegal immigrants invading their towns and cities.

Hopefully, some of the other cities that have passed local ordinances will have issues that are different from those presented in this case. This one will at least be a road map. Also, while I would liked for a different outcome, this is not unusual in the district court. The next step will be with a 3-judge panel in the 3rd circuit and that could produce a different result. If Hazelton loses there they can ask for it to be heard en banc (full court.) The next step will be to the Supreme Court.

By the time the case is heard in the 3rd circuit there should be some cases that have reached other circuit courts. So.....we might have lost a skirmish, but we haven't lost the war. Soldier on!!!