The Hazleton Case: The People vs. the ACLU

Special to FreeRepublic ^ | 30 August 2006 | John Armor (Congressman Billybob)

[Dante3]

BUMP

[Carry_Okie]

What the cities wating for Hazleton should do is to kick in a few bucks to by which to help fund a legal juggernaut.

[El Gato]

Doesn't the second paragraph of Article VI of the Constitution have some applicability to the "unconstitutionally enforcing immigration laws" argument?

This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.

[4Freedom]

Wouldn't the act of enforcing a law be proof in and of itself that your were abiding by that law?

I see what Hazleton is doing as reinforcing the "Law of the Land" and not "Contrary" to it at all.

With a screen name like 'El Gato' it's obvious you must know English better than the rest of here, so please enlighten us as to where you believe enforcement is mentioned in that passage from the Constitution.

Bank robbery is a federal crime, so local law enforcement can't arrest bank robbers according to the way you and the ACLU read the Constitution?

[JZelle]

Just read your piece in the Washington Times. I was going to post it here when I found this. Well done!

[neverdem]

Wrote this as a proposed Op-Ed piece in an (unnamed) national newspaper. Not picked up. Still relevant. Therefore, published here since Freepers are interested in this subject.

BTTT, but why didn't you check the box so it would hang in the editorial sidebar? 8^)

Joining the ACLU in filing the case was the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund. This is an odd partner because legal residents of Puerto Rico are American citizens. Laws directed at illegal aliens don’t application to them.

Maybe that relates to their cousins from the Dominican Republic who take a boat ride, pay for phony papers, become instant Puerto Ricans and then take a trip to NY City? Next time your in Manhattan, check out Washington Heights and Inwood at its northern end. While there, you ought to check out the Cloisters Museum in Fort Tryon Park. It has a collection of medieval art that's hard to match.

[stevio]

This being said, will the taxpayers wind up paying the ACLU's legal fees or their damages?

[<1/1,000,000th%]

Nice post!

[green iguana]

how do you “unconstitutionally” seek “to enforce immigration laws.”?

Immigration is the perview of the Federal Government, and the Feds only per the Constitution. Immigration laws made by a state or city would be unconstitutional. But these aren't immigration laws, they are laws pertaining to business permits and the like, which cities do have jurisdiction over. The ACLU seems to be stretching on this, as it often does.

[Cagey]

Next time your in Manhattan, check out Washington Heights and Inwood at its northern end. While there, you ought to check out the Cloisters Museum in Fort Tryon Park. It has a collection of medieval art that's hard to match.

I was born in Washington Heights and shortly after my folks moved us up to Inwood. I spent many hours in Fort Tryon Park and have only good memories. I'd go back for a visit but my Spanish isn't up to par.

[conservative in nyc]

Does the ACLU's argument more hinge on a claim that Article I, Section 8, Clause 4 gives Congress the power "to establish a uniform rule of naturalization", and "make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution" thereof, as well as your typical (bogus) ACLU due process claim? Isn't the ACLU arguing that by Hazelton providing additional penalties for illegal immigrants, there is no uniform rule of naturalization (which doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me - the Hazelton law has nothing to do with naturalization of immigrants, but harboring or hiring people who are in this country illegally).

[Congressman Billybob]

Yes, there are precedents on all three issues which indicate that Hazleton should prevail.

John / Billybob

[Congressman Billybob]

That's what happens when a sentence is halfway changed in the editorial process. It should say "apply." I haven't checked the version that was printed in the Washington Times this morning, but I expect they caught and corrected that error. Thanks. John / Billybob

[Clintonfatigued]

I applaud Louis Barletta's action. We need a few more Mayors like him.

[Congressman Billybob]

The US could pass a law making it illegal to rent to illegal aliens, or to hire them, or to make English the official language. If the federal government acted on that, the federal law would supersede any state or federal laws. However, in the absence of such federal or state laws, any local government may do what it chooses within its own boundaries.

There's no federal - state - local conflict present at this time.

John / Billybob

[Congressman Billybob]

Thanks for your note. I don't promote any of my posts in the sidebar. My columns earn their way, if they deserve it.

Yes, I've been to the Cloisters. Their medieval art and weaponry are excellent. (I had a minor in the Middle Ages, and learned to speak and read Middle English.)

John / Billybob

[Congressman Billybob]

If Hazleton passed an ordinance which somehow applied at the Mexican or Canadian borders -- or which purported to decide who was, or was not, eligible to be an American citizen -- THAT would involve Article IV of the Constitution. But Hazleton is doing no such thing.

John / Billybob

[MissAmericanPie]

Fantastic idea.

[CottonBall]

Yes, there are precedents on all three issues which indicate that Hazleton should prevail.

I pray that is the case. For all our sakes.

Any word on how long this will take to go to court?

[neverdem]

I don't promote any of my posts in the sidebar. My columns earn their way, if they deserve it.

I figured as much. I was trying to use it as a 'teachable moment' to get folks to check the appropriate boxes for hangtime in the sidebars.

I could be wrong, but I don't believe BTTT is anything more than a compliment. I believe posted articles march through cyberspace in the order that they are posted. I believe they get seen by more folks when they have hangtime in the sidebars.

I can't tell you all the good commentary or obviously frontpage stories that weren't checked appropriately.