http://www.nwaonline.net/articles/2006/ ... eeting.txt

Councilman Proposes Illegal Aliens Ordinance

By Steve Caraway
The Morning News
SPRINGDALE -- Springdale could become the second Northwest Arkansas city to look at illegal alien ordinances.

Alderman Ray Dotson, at the close of Tuesday's City Council meeting, asked City Attorney Jeff Harper to look at an ordinance to curb illegal aliens living in Springdale. Rogers Mayor Steve Womack proposed an ordinance to restrict housing and employment in his city at the end of October.

"If they pass an ordinance in Rogers, all of the illegals will move down here," Dotson said. "We need to protect the citizens and the legal immigrants in Springdale."

An ordinance passed in Hazleton, Penn., was the starting point for Rogers. A federal judge blocked enforcement of the Hazleton ordinances in October, after the American Civil Liberties Union and Hispanic groups filed a lawsuit.

Dotson, who is in a runoff election for his council seat with Jesse Core, said he had read parts of the Hazleton laws.

"We want to be prepared for the Rogers ordinance to protect our citizens," Dotson said. "We will welcome legals with open arms. We won't welcome illegals coming under the cover of darkness."

Harper has a copy of the Hazleton ordinance and has talked to Rogers City Attorney Ben Lipscomb about Rogers ordinances, he said.