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Council: Let Feds Handle Immigration Posted 2006-08-31

Practicality Of Local Crackdown Doubted

By Jeff Mellott

HARRISONBURG — As far as members of the City Council are concerned, immigration is a federal issue, so any local efforts to crack down on illegal immigration are unlikely.

Council members contacted on Wednesday said they are open to discussions about passing local ordinances to address the issue, but they questioned how enforcement could be practical.

Council members were responding to questions about whether they would follow the lead of other cities around the country that have enacted ordinances penalizing those who do business with illegal immigrants.

More than a dozen local governments nationwide have adopted ordinances cracking down on illegal immigrants, according to published reports.

For instance, the Hazleton (Pa.) City Council passed an ordinance allowing government officials to strip business owners of their operating licenses if they hire illegal immigrants. Also, the city will issue a fine of $1,000 a day to landlords who rent to illegal immigrants.

Opponents of the ordinances are fighting them in court.

Harrisonburg Councilwoman Carolyn Frank says residents have asked her about the possibility of local ordinances curbing illegal immigration. But she also says she doesn’t want to expend city resources fighting an ordinance in court.

"I do recognize it as a big problem," Frank said of illegal immigration, "and a concern among the people of Harrisonburg." Frank said she is unsure how the city could proceed. "How do we stop that, and who is responsible for that?"

Given the two examples in the Hazleton ordinance, Frank said she did not want to put the enforcement of any ordinance on business owners and landlords.

"I am open for discussion," she said. "I have a lot of questions that would need to be answered."

Councilman Charles Chenault said it was not a practical issue to bring up because of the problems of enforcement. Immigrants could present false documents to business owners and landlords, for example, he said.

And, Councilman George Pace said, the city can do little until the federal government steps up its own enforcement.

"It’s one thing to write an ordinance," he said. "It’s another thing to enforce it."

Mayor Rodney Eagle said he needs more information before forming an opinion.

"It wouldn’t hurt to discuss it," he said. "If we have a problem, we need to address it and go from there."

He is certain about one thing: that immigrants play an important role in the city’s economy. "They do fill a lot of jobs in the area that are necessary," he said.