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Wilkes-Barre taking a wait-and-see approach to an illegal immigration ordinance

BY WADE MALCOLM
STAFF WRITER
10/07/2006

Members of Wilkes-Barre City Council have discussed the possibility of enacting a law similar to Hazleton’s illegal immigration ordinance.

It won’t pass any time soon. But, eventually, it could, according to four council members.

“We’ve mentioned it, but we’re kind of staying back on it,” Councilwoman Kathy Kane said.

“We don’t want to be open to a lawsuit. We can’t afford it for our taxpayers right now.”

Attorneys advised the city not to act on any immigration ordinance until the Hazleton lawsuit plays out in federal court. At least four members of city council, however, agreed in principle with part or all of the Hazleton ordinance.

While Kane said she supports only the English-only portion of the Hazleton ordinances, Councilman Jim McCarthy and council Chairman Tony Thomas agree with Hazleton’s ordinance, but added illegal immigration is not enough of a problem in the city to warrant an ordinance and risk a lawsuit.

“Any time you draft legislation, you have to be careful not to step on anyone’s constitutional toes, which is what’s happening to Mayor (Lou) Barletta,” McCarthy said.

Council Vice Chairman William Barrett, however, said he would not vote for an ordinance similar to Hazleton’s. Instead, he favors adding a provision to the city’s landlord ordinance that would prohibit landlords from renting to illegal immigrants.

“It’s not being handled well at the federal level, but I believe it should be handled at that level,” he said. “I don’t think we have to pass a redundant local ordinance.”

Councilman Phillip Latinski said he is not familiar enough with Hazleton’s ordinance to know whether he would vote for it, but he is certain of his stance on illegal immigrants.

“If they’re illegal, then they’re wrong,” Latinski said.

First proposed by Barletta in June, Hazleton’s ordinance was the first of its kind in the United States. The ordinance has spread to municipalities throughout the country and Northeastern Pennsylvania. Two suburbs of Hazleton, a city of 30,000, passed similar laws. Wilkes-Barre and Plains townships also have discussed Hazleton-type ordinances. An illegal immigration ordinance was proposed in Forty Fort this summer, but it was ultimately rejected.

wmalcolm@citizensvoice.com

©The Citizens Voice 2006