Thread: WA: Kennewick declines to ban illegal immigrants

Kennewick declines to ban illegal immigrants
October 21, 2009
Citing lack of authority, the Kennewick City Council declined Tuesday to ban illegal immigrants from the city limits.

The Associated Press
KENNEWICK, Wash. —

Citing lack of authority, the Kennewick City Council declined Tuesday to ban illegal immigrants from the city limits.

The Tri-City Herald reports the council was responding to a request by resident Loren Nichols, who asked the council last month to evict illegal immigrants from the city.

City Attorney Lisa Beaton told the council that immigration is a federal issue, beyond the city's legal reach.

"We have no authority to prosecute criminal violations of (that) act," Beaton said.

She added that for the city to do that, the state would have to change laws allowing city police to arrest someone without having observed the violation.

Kennewick, like many Eastern Washington cities, has a significant Latino population, who initially came to the area to work in the region's agricultural industry. The bulk of farm workers in the area continue to be Latinos.

At the meeting, councilman Steve Young said banning illegal immigrants would raise constitutional issues.

"It is unconstitutional to chase anybody based on race or nationality. This has gone on long enough," he said.

Nichols didn't buy it.

"This council doesn't have the will. They just have excuses for not doing the right thing," he said. "Illegal aliens don't have rights. That's the bottom line."

Nichols was not allowed to speak at the Tuesday night meeting. His proposal to the council did have support from at least one council member - Bob Parks.

Parks has said he is concerned about illegal immigrants in the Tri-Cities area and would support an English-only language policy in the city.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com

This region of Washington has yet to learn the lessons that Kalifornia is now waking up too.