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08/31/2006
Supporters of anti-immigration laws rally at City Hall
TIM ROHWER , Staff Writer



About a dozen people rallied outside the Council Bluffs City Hall Wednesday to request the city enact tougher laws against illegal immigrants.

Such laws, however, should be addressed at the state or federal levels, City Attorney Richard Wade said.

The Minutemen and a new group, United Citizens of America, were represented at the rally, along with supporters of their cause, which includes better border security from possible terrorists.

"Dear Mr. President, you tell us we're at war, so why are not our borders secured?" asked Craig Halverson, the Iowa leader of the United Citizens of America.

Susan Smith, a supporter of the cause, said, "Five years after 9/11, our borders are still wide open."

This also includes the country's northern border as well as the southern one, she said.

"We've got to be building up our borders - we're sitting ducks," Smith said.

The group also passed out what was called the Illegal Immigration Relief Act ordinance that was recently passed in Hazleton, Penn. The group hopes that both Omaha and Council Bluffs officials consider it, they said.

This ordinance would fine employers who hire illegal aliens with the possibility that their business license could be suspended for up to five years.

A landlord who knowingly rented property to illegal aliens could be fined $1,000 per illegal alien per day for each day the violation continues.

The ordinance would declare English as the official language in the community.

There were no city officials at the rally; and only one of the council members, Matt Walsh, had a chance to look at the ordinance, Wade said.

"I talked to Matt, and he is not in support of it," Wade said. "I think the council has expressed no interest in doing anything along these lines."

Wade said he is not aware of any ordinance on the city books that deals with this issue, though there may be some federal stature that could be applicable to it.

"In reality, legislation like this is best handled at the state or federal level," he said.

It's also not wise that one community handle this issue different from neighboring cities, Wade said.

"Laws should be consistent on this issue across the country," he said.