On the advice of FIRE, I am drafting a letter to send to landlords who are suspected of housing illegals. Let me know what you think and any suggestions for improvement. They will post it on their website as a downloadable letter that anyone can send. Thanks



ARE YOU COMMITING A FELONY ?


Renting property to illegal immigrants is illegal. You can be imprisoned for up to 5 years, receive substantial fines, and lose your property.

Federal Immigration and Nationality Act Section 8 USC 1324(a)(1)(A)(iv)(b)(iii)

"Any person who . . . encourages or induces an alien to . . . reside . . . knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that such . . . residence is . . . in violation of law, shall be punished as provided . . . for each alien in respect to whom such a violation occurs . . . fined under title 18 . . . imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both."

Section 274 felonies under the federal Immigration and Nationality Act, INA 274A(a)(1)(A):

A person (including a group of persons, business, organization, or local government) commits a federal felony when she or he:

* assists an alien s/he should reasonably know is illegally in the U.S. or who lacks employment authorization, by transporting, sheltering, or assisting him or her to obtain employment, or

* encourages that alien to remain in the U.S. by referring him or her to an employer or by acting as employer or agent for an employer in any way, or

* knowingly assists illegal aliens due to personal convictions.

Penalties upon conviction include criminal fines, imprisonment, and forfeiture of vehicles and real property used to commit the crime. Anyone employing or contracting with an illegal alien without verifying his or her work authorization status is guilty of a misdemeanor. Aliens and employers violating immigration laws are subject to arrest, detention, and seizure of their vehicles or property. In addition, individuals or entities who engage in racketeering enterprises that commit (or conspire to commit) immigration-related felonies are subject to private civil suits for treble damages and injunctive relief.


A RECORD OF THIS MAILING WILL BE KEPT ON FILE AS NOTIFICATION OF THE FEDERAL IMMIGRATION STATUTES. IT IS YOUR DUTY TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT YOUR TENANTS ARE IN THE US LEGALLY.

A FAILURE TO THOUROUGHLY VERIFY SOMEONE’S IMMIGRATION STATUS IS NOT AN EXCUSE FOR BREAKING THE LAW.

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY’S IMMIGRATION WEBSITE AT: WWW.ICE.GOV