Thread: Hazleton, PA divided on illegal immigrant issue, but move on

Hazleton divided on illegal immigrant issue
BY NICHOLE DOBO
STAFF WRITER
06/16/2006Email to a friendPrinter-friendly
HAZLETON — When Mayor Lou Barletta asked a Hispanic man at a city council meeting if he is “legal,” the man lifted his head and said this:

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“My name is Leo Cordero. I live at 659 North Locust Street. Social Security number ...”

Mr. Cordero was cut off by applause from a crowd divided on the mayor’s proposal that would ban illegal immigrants from living in Hazleton, fine businesses that “aid and abet” those immigrants and remove all foreign language documents from City Hall.

The ordinance passed its first reading 4-1 on Thursday. It must pass two more readings before it goes into effect.

A crowd of nearly 100 packed council chambers. Five residents urged council not to pass the ordinance and two asked for a few revisions. One man agreed totally with it, suggesting signs saying “this is an English only town” be posted at city limits.

At issue was whether all immigrants — including those the city considers illegal — have rights and if the ordinance was directed at the swelling Hispanic population.

“Citizen or not citizen, we have basic rights,” Mr. Cordero said.

“Nobody is criminal until you find that person to be criminal,” he said.

Mr. Barletta urged the crowd several times that he was not directing the ordinance at the city’s Hispanic population. Many times the mayor received applause when reiterating his intention to drive away every person he believes to be an “illegal immigrant.”

“This ordinance does not roll back the welcome mat to those who are legally in the United States,” he said, reading from a prepared speech.

“ ... Rather, this ordinance seeks to stem the flow of illegal immigrants into Hazleton. They are not welcome here.”

The city has seen a large growth in recent years, mainly due to Hispanic immigration. The mayor estimates more than 25 percent of the city is Hispanic. In 2001, the city had three Hispanic businesses; today there are more than 60.

Councilman Robert Nilles suggested “adding teeth” to the ordinance by having City Hall hand out permits that would allow people to rent if they could prove they are legally in the country.

Natalia Gomez, a Hazleton professional, said she believes it is in the best interest to learn about cultures and to recall the area’s history of immigration issues, alluding to the Lattimer massacre, an incident near Hazleton when a sheriff and his crew killed 19 unarmed immigrant miners.

“No one will be able to alleviate the tension and chaos you are creating,” she said.

Contact the writer: ndobo@citizensvoice.com



©The Times-Tribune 2006

“Nobody is criminal until you find that person to be criminal,” he said.

I just find that statement funny. How are you going to find out if you're not allowed to ask citizenship? How are you going to proove anything with a ton of fake ID's? How are you going to be able to do anything when even if you do catch them they can cry "profiling" or "racism"? Or when you've got our own government saying it's ok coz we forced them to break the law?

including those the city considers illegal

What do they mean considers illegal. If they entered this country illegally, they are in fact illegal. No need to wait until somebody "considers" them illegal

I'm encouraged to see the amount of local newspapers and talk shows that are talking about illegal immigration. Keep up the good job of keeping the issue alive. Everyday I see some article on illegal immigration and listen to local talk shows discuss illegal immigration. Some reporting is not favorable, but they are finding out that the majority are in favor of securing the border and NO Amesty.

http://www.hazletoncity.org/home_frameset.htm

sign the petition and email this man that you support him.

Originally Posted by Posie

Hazleton divided on illegal immigrant issue
BY NICHOLE DOBO
STAFF WRITER
06/16/2006Email to a friendPrinter-friendly
HAZLETON — When Mayor Lou Barletta asked a Hispanic man at a city council meeting if he is “legal,” the man lifted his head and said this:

Advertisement


“My name is Leo Cordero. I live at 659 North Locust Street. Social Security number ...”

Mr. Cordero was cut off by applause from a crowd divided on the mayor’s proposal that would ban illegal immigrants from living in Hazleton, fine businesses that “aid and abet” those immigrants and remove all foreign language documents from City Hall.

The ordinance passed its first reading 4-1 on Thursday. It must pass two more readings before it goes into effect.

A crowd of nearly 100 packed council chambers. Five residents urged council not to pass the ordinance and two asked for a few revisions. One man agreed totally with it, suggesting signs saying “this is an English only town” be posted at city limits.

At issue was whether all immigrants — including those the city considers illegal — have rights and if the ordinance was directed at the swelling Hispanic population.

“Citizen or not citizen, we have basic rights,” Mr. Cordero said.

“Nobody is criminal until you find that person to be criminal,” he said.

Mr. Barletta urged the crowd several times that he was not directing the ordinance at the city’s Hispanic population. Many times the mayor received applause when reiterating his intention to drive away every person he believes to be an “illegal immigrant.”

“This ordinance does not roll back the welcome mat to those who are legally in the United States,” he said, reading from a prepared speech.

“ ... Rather, this ordinance seeks to stem the flow of illegal immigrants into Hazleton. They are not welcome here.”

The city has seen a large growth in recent years, mainly due to Hispanic immigration. The mayor estimates more than 25 percent of the city is Hispanic. In 2001, the city had three Hispanic businesses; today there are more than 60.

Councilman Robert Nilles suggested “adding teeth” to the ordinance by having City Hall hand out permits that would allow people to rent if they could prove they are legally in the country.

Natalia Gomez, a Hazleton professional, said she believes it is in the best interest to learn about cultures and to recall the area’s history of immigration issues, alluding to the Lattimer massacre, an incident near Hazleton when a sheriff and his crew killed 19 unarmed immigrant miners.

“No one will be able to alleviate the tension and chaos you are creating,” she said.

Contact the writer: ndobo@citizensvoice.com



©The Times-Tribune 2006

Mayor Louis Barletta`s emulated this proposal from Joseph Turner. An activist and resident of San bernardino,Ca. The cowardly City Officials of San Bernardino,Ca are trying to throw this proposal out.

www.sbsun.com Titled "East Coast city eye`s local idea" Sub Titled "Anti- Immigration plan moves forward in Pennsylvania"

That has got to be the stupidist thing I have ever heard in my life a criminal saying they are not a criminal but, hey, I have always heard that you can ask any criminal and they will tell you the same thing, they are always innocent. That is like a small child trying to con's it's parents thinking that the parents are not smart enough to figure out what they have done, gees. They really need to drop that line, people tend to attach an IQ to it.