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Hazleton’s illegal immigration ordinance will be challenged in a lawsuit to be filed against the city within the next two weeks.

Attorneys for the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund, one of several advocacy groups opposed to the law, said in a written statement that an amended complaint will be filed in Scranton federal court before the city begins enforcing the ordinance Nov. 1.

When the suit is filed, the plaintiffs — represented by several local lawyers, the American Civil Liberties Union and the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund — could seek an immediate court injunction to block Hazleton from starting enforcement, the attorneys have said.

City council approved revision to the ordinance several times since Mayor Lou Barletta proposed the idea in June. Earlier versions fined employers hiring or landlords renting to illegal immigrants, and made English the city’s official language. A lawsuit was filed against those ordinances in early August.

The current illegal immigration ordinance suspends permits of businesses employing illegal immigrants and fines landlords renting to them for multiple offenses. The official language portion is now a separate ordinance.

Two national immigration law experts crafted the latest version of Hazleton’s ordinance, which passed 4-1 in September and is considered more defensible in court.

Still, opponents of the law say it conflicts with federal immigration laws and promotes discrimination of certain groups. Supporters argue it only discriminates against one group: illegal immigrants, regardless of their race or national origin.

Municipalities throughout the country, eastern Pennsylvania and in the Wilkes-Barre area have considered or enacted “copycat” ordinances. Many were modeled after Hazleton’s original ordinance, which a nonpartisan congressional review characterized as overly broad and most likely unconstitutional.

Now, several municipalities surrounding Hazleton already have or plan to enact immigration laws similar to the city’s, including West Hazleton and Hazle Township in southern Luzerne County, and Shenandoah and Frackville in Schuylkill County.

“I can’t imagine why we wouldn’t pass the same version as Hazleton,” West Hazleton Mayor Mark Rockovich said.

In an open letter late last week, Barletta advised city residents that enforcement of the two ordinances would begin Nov. 1. “It is our intent and strong belief,” the letter read, “that these ordinances will serve to make Hazleton a better community for all of it legal residents.”

wmalcolm@citizensvoice.com