Thread: TX: Farmers Branch proposes new ban for illegal immigrants

Jan. 17, 2008, 8:04PM
Farmers Branch proposes new ban for illegal immigrants


Associated Press

FARMERS BRANCH — The Dallas suburb that jumped into the nationwide debate over immigration plans to take up another law to force out undocumented immigrants.

The Farmers Branch City Council plans to consider a new ordinance Tuesday banning landlords from renting apartments and houses to illegal immigrants. It would require the city and federal government, not the landlords, to determine who is in the country legally, The Dallas Morning News reported on its Web site Thursday.

City Council members first approved a ban on apartment rentals to illegal immigrants in November 2006 without discussion. They then revised the ordinance to include exemptions for minors, seniors and some mixed-immigration status families and approved it in January 2007. Residents voted to approve the rule in May.

But a federal judge has blocked Farmers Branch from enforcing the ordinance after finding city officials attempted to regulate immigration differently from the federal government.

"I am confident this new proposal is consistent with the intent of Farmers Branch voters, and will withstand any legal challenges," Mayor Pro Tem Tim O'Hare, who led the city's original efforts against illegal immigrants, told The Associated Press in an e-mail.

The new proposal would require adults wanting to lease a house or apartment in Farmers Branch to obtain an occupancy license from the city. People seeking the license would have to provide information about their citizenship or legal status. The information would be checked against a federal database to determine if applicants are in the country legally.

If federal authorities can't confirm a person has permission to live in the country, the license holder and landlord would be notified. The renter would have 60 days to provide proof of legal status.

Violations of the ordinance could result in a fine of up to $500 per day.

Nationwide, more than 100 cities or counties have proposed, passed or rejected laws prohibiting landlords from leasing to illegal immigrants, penalizing businesses that employ undocumented workers or training police to enforce immigration laws.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/met ... 65140.html

AN OCCUPANCY LICENSE FROM THE COUNTY.....THATS A GOOD IDEA

The occupancy license should list the number of occupants that can live in the dwelling and record their social security numbers too.

Don't forget to check HUD housing and other government subsidized housing programs.

Fences make good neighbors.

Added to Homepage:
http://www.alipac.us/article-2878--0-0.html

Isn't this something on the order of what Hazelton tried?