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Riverside threatened with suit

By RICHARD PEARSALL
Courier-Post Staff


RIVERSIDE
Drop the ordinance or face a lawsuit.

That is the message a coalition of Latino and civil rights groups delivered to the township committee here Wednesday in the latest exchange of views on the township's illegal immigration ordinance.

Asked if the committee would comply with the coalition's request and revoke the ordinance at its next meeting, scheduled for Sept. 27, Mayor Charles Hilton replied, "It's not likely."

The ordinance, enacted in July, prescribes fines of up to $2,000 for landlords who rent to or employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants.

Hilton estimated the number of illegal immigrants in his township then at somewhere between 1,500 and 3,500. He said Wednesday he believes there has been some decrease since then.

Led by the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund, the coalition contemplating legal action contends the Riverside ordinance is unconstitutional and has already filed suit against the Hazleton, Pa., ordinance after which it is modeled.

In a letter to Hilton, the coalition threatened to sue Riverside, too, warning if it doesn't take action to rescind the ordinance, "the township will be subject to injunctive relief, possible monetary damages and the payment of attorney fees and costs which will likely be quite substantial."

Meanwhile, the owner of an Edgewater Park bed and breakfast has scheduled a yard sale Saturday to support Riverside's efforts to combat illegal immigration.

Proceeds from the yard sale will be sent to the Riverside Legal Defense Fund, said Carol Moore, owner of the White Briar Bed and Breakfast at 1028 Cooper St.

Moore said she is acting on behalf of a group called the Daughters of America, whose "prime objective," she said, "is to protect Americans and American interest from the devastating effects of immigration, and, in this case, illegal immigration."

In addition to the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund, the coalition contemplating legal action includes the American Civil Liberties Union and People for the American Way as well as a local group formed in response to the ordinance, the Coalition of Business Owners and Landlords.

In its letter to Hilton, the coalition outlined what it sees as four problems with the ordinance that render it "in violation of the United States and New Jersey constitutions and various civil rights laws." The coalition cited a report from the Congressional Research Service that concludes that the Hazleton ordinance is likely to be found unlawful.

Reach Richard Pearsall at (856) 486-2465 or rpearsall@courierpostonline.com
Published: September 21. 2006 3:10AM