Texas Approves Anti-Immigrant Law

[Kor37 9]

Texas Voters Approve Anti-Immigrant Law

By ANABELLE GARAY

AP

FARMERS BRANCH, Texas (May 13) - Voters in this Dallas suburb became the first in the nation Saturday to prohibit landlords from renting to most illegal immigrants.

 

The ban was approved by a vote of 68 percent to 32 percent in final, unofficial returns.

 

The balloting marked the first public vote on a local government measure to crack down on illegal immigration .

 

"It says especially to Congress that we're tired of the out-of-control illegal immigration problem. That if Congress doesn't do something about it, cities will," said Tim O'Hare, a City Council member who was the ordinance's lead proponent.

 

The ordinance requires apartment managers to verify that renters are U.S. citizens or legal immigrants before leasing to them, with some exceptions.

 

Property managers or owners who break the rule face a misdemeanor charge punishable by a fine of up to $500.

 

Council members approved the ordinance in November, then revised it in January to include exemptions for minors, seniors and some families with a mix of legal residents and illegal immigrants.

 

Farmers Branch has become the site of protests and angry confrontations, and opponents of the regulation gathered enough signatures to force the city to put the measure on the municipal election ballot.

 

With Saturday's approval of the ban, opponents plan to fight it in court, and will seek a restraining order to stop the city from enforcing it.

 

The city was already facing four lawsuits brought by civil rights groups, residents, property owners and businesses who contend the ordinance discriminates and that it places landlords in the precarious position of acting as federal immigration officers. Their attorneys say the ordinance attempts to regulate immigration, a duty that is exclusively the federal government's. One lawsuit also alleges the council violated the state open meetings act when deciding on the ordinance.

 

O'Hare contends the city's economy and quality of life will improve if illegal immigrants are kept out.

 

Around the country, more than 90 local governments have proposed, passed or rejected laws prohibiting landlords from leasing to illegal immigrants, penalizing businesses that employ them or training police to enforce immigration laws.

 

Local proposals aimed at regulating illegal immigration often fail to pass constitutional muster, said Muzaffar Chishti, director of the Migration Policy Institute office at New York University School of Law.

 

"There is significant frustration, so that's what's driving it," Chishti said. "But the simple fact is they cannot do too much other than impress upon the Congress the need for immigration reform."

 

I think this is a great idea and every other state should do the same thing. I only have 2 problems with it. First, it shouldn't be called an "Anti-Immigrant" law. There is nothing wrong with immigrants. Its the illegal trespassers that are the problem. Second, the penalties are way too lenient. It should be a felony, not a misdemeanor and a fine of only "up to $500" is ridiculous.

[Capt_Picard 0]

I agree with you on both points Kor. I would like to note they did make some exemptions, so this isn't a heartless law.

[He Who Shall Not Be Named 2]

Texas Voters Approve Anti-Immigrant Law

O'Hare contends the city's economy and quality of life will improve if illegal immigrants are kept out.

Not necessarily. Sure immigrants "take jobs" that might have otherwise gone to natives, but they also spend money while they are here which provides jobs to illegals and natives. It is also a myth that illegals don't pay taxes. Many have fake Social Security numbers and pay taxes on these numbers. Sure they may pay less taxes but this is based more on the low-wage jobs themselves rather than their status as illegals.

 

There are legitimate reasons to clamp down on illegal immigration, but they are not based on economics.

Edited May 14, 2007 by Lt. Van Roy