Here's a small town overrun by illegal aliens who could use some help in cracking down on illegals. Comments welcome (free registration):

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/apps/.../1014/NEWS0204

BOUND BROOK —Councilman Jim Lefkowitz will introduce a resolution in July calling for the borough to take measures to crack down on illegal aliens, such as requiring landlords to obtain proof their tenants are legal residents.


Lefkowitz's proposal, which will be considered at the July 8 council meeting, comes four years after the U.S. Department of Justice cited borough officials for waging a multifaceted campaign to drive out Hispanics.

Bound Brook, while not admitting guilt, agreed to settle the suit, paying a $30,000 fine and creating a $425,000 compensation fund for victims of discrimination between 1996 and 2002.

Amy Gottlieb, a program director in the Newark office of the American Friends Service Committee, a nonprofit agency that serves as an advocate for immigrants, among other causes, said actions such as those proposed by Lefkowitz, "create divisiveness,'' engenders racial profiling and "turns landlords and city employees into immigration officials.''

She called Lefkowitz's proposal "wrong-headed'' and ""not the way to solve'' immigration problems.

The American Civil Liberties Union has filed lawsuits challenging similar proposals adopted in a number of other municipalities across the country, including Hazleton, Pa., and the Burlington County community of Riverside.

The Hazleton ordinance, which drew national attention, was overturned by a federal judge in 2007 while the Riverside law was repealed after a challenge was filed in court.

Deborah Jacobs, executive director of the ACLU's New Jersey chapter, said Wednesday that the chapter's expert on immigration matters was not in the office and, therefore, unavailable for comment.

Lefkowitz said he was proceeding with the resolution despite concerns from other council members that it might entangle Bound Brook in more litigation and add to the borough's legal expenses.

"I'm a little sick and tired of walking on egg shells because of the DOJ (Department of Justice),'' Lefkowitz said, adding Bound Brook should join the 55 municipalities across the country that have adopted similar ordinances.

The Republican councilman, who is running for re-election this year, said he was prompted to take the action by changes in the plans for redevelopment in the borough that call for more rental units because of the changing housing market.

The councilman also said it is well-documented that an increase in illegal aliens correlates to an increase in the crime rate.

"Studies show that illegal immigrants cost taxpayers much more in public services than they pay into the system via taxes,'' Lefkowitz states in the summary of his resolution.

Lefkowitz's proposal also calls for police to determine the legal status of any person arrested and to make sure that if any illegal alien is taken into custody, that person is turned over to federal Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) officials. He said that proposal is consistent with current federal policy.

Lefkowitz said the federal government should make the determination if an illegal alien should be kept in custody.

In explaining his resolution, Lefkowitz said the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development requires recipients of Section 8 rental assistance funds to prove legal residency.

The proposal also calls for the borough to deny any contracts to a firm that hires illegal aliens.

It's very, very important we address this issue,'' he said. ""I want to know I did everything I could.''

Michael Deak can be reached at (90 707-3134 or mdeak@mycentraljersey.com.

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