Posted on 11/23/2006 5:22:25 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach
WASHINGTON – As small towns across the United States enact tough ordinances to fight illegal immigration, the American Civil Liberties Union is leading a charge to fight the measures in court.
The national civil rights group has joined Hispanic organizations in suing several towns, saying that the laws are unconstitutional and conflict with state and federal immigration and housing statutes. Most of the ordinances target landlords who rent to illegal immigrants and businesses that hire them.
"These ordinances promote and encourage discrimination ... (and) heighten suspicion about anyone who looks or sounds foreign," said Vic Walczak, legal director of the ACLU in Pennsylvania, where one of the most restrictive ordinances was approved in the small town of Hazleton.
The ACLU, together with other groups, challenged the Hazleton ordinance in court. It requires renters to register with city hall so officials can do background checks on them. Landlords renting to people who are not licensed face penalties of $1,000 a day. In addition, businesses found to be employing illegal immigrants could lose their business permit for five years for the first offense and 10 years for the second.
Last month, a federal judge temporarily blocked the Hazleton ordinance and later extended the order. A trial is expected early next year.
The ACLU claimed another preliminary success earlier this month when a federal judge issued a restraining order against an ordinance in Escondido that gives landlords 10 business days to evict illegal immigrant tenants. If found in violation, landlords could face a variety of penalties, including fines up to $1,000 a day, six months in jail, or suspension of their business licenses. The judge put the measure on hold until a preliminary injunction hearing can be held on the matter.
(Excerpt) Read more at ocregister.com ...
ACLU Succeeds In Getting Restraining Order Against Town’s Anti-Illegal Immigration Laws
Well it was the "true conservatives" who gave nancy and the ACLU power, with their "cut off the nose to spite the face' voting strategy.
Once again the adjective "illegal" before "immigration" is left out of the headline!
Coincidence?
It is already well understood by most people that the ACLU is just a legal racketeering outfit. Why they haven't been shut down yet is the real mystery.
Why aren't these bass turds in jail? They obviously don't understand the meaning of laws and why they are created. Anyone who donates money to these pigs should also be sent to prison. Except for the taxpayers. The aCLU extorts money from them.
Once again it's the laws that are illegal and not
those came here illegally that are the problem....JJ61
Nice to see Dubya sending in the US Justice Department to battle the
ACLU as they thwart the will of US Citizens on a local-level issue.
(/sarc)
Rogers Arkansas is working on a similar proposal and is paying attention to events in Hazelton.
Give it up already Dane. You're so predictable and you're fooling no one by pretending to be anti Bush's OBL agenda. The liberals are on YOUR side.
What, exactly, does the "A" in ACLU stand for? It can't be "American" .
That should have been: /Mega sarc.
Anti-American, the second A is silent.
Great, #1 public enemy of America in a new attempt to undermine the country, create chaos, and protect the guilty.
[Anyone who donates money to these pigs should also be sent to prison.] Yup- for supporting a terrorist organization that uses intimidation and extortion to wage their anti-U.S agenda on us all! http://sacredscoop.com
The most corrupt profession in the United States is law.
That is not surprising.
ACLU= ASSININE CORRUPTED LIBERTIES UNION....JJ61
Uh no Kimberly, you are on the ACLU side, with your slash and burn tactics towards the GOP.
You made your bed, now you have to lie in it.
Me I have a clear conscience, since I in no way helped nancy/ACLU gain power.
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