ACLU fights illegal-immigration laws

The Orange County Register ^ | Thursday, November 23, 2006 | EUNICE MOSCOSOCox News Service

[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.

[humblegunner]

"These ordinances promote and encourage discrimination ... (and) heighten suspicion about anyone who looks or sounds foreign,"

Has anyone taken a good look at how the human immune system works?

I keeps you healthy by eliminating stuff that "looks or sounds foreign".

Sue biology for racism.

[sport]

Yes they did and they should begin reaping the fruits they sowed somewhere between June and September'08.

[LiberalBassTurds]

They need a name change:

ICLU

Illegal's Civil Liberties Union

LBT
-=-=-

[humblegunner]

with their "cut off the nose to spite the face' voting strategy.

REALLY?

Please, just as a favor, tell me who voted for whom.

Even easier.. tell me who I voted for.

Can't do it?

Then you have no business cocking off about voting strategies, have you?

I thought not.

[Dane]

Yes they did and they should begin reaping the fruits they sowed somewhere between June and September'08.

Whom? nancy pelosi & co. or the "true conservatives". JMO, both have the same agenda, they hate the GOP.

[sport]

The ones who either stayed home or voted Democrat on November 7, 2008 in order to "punish" the Republicans.

[metmom]

ping

[Red_Devil 232]

"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 ..."

Actually they do not promote discrimination ... they require "everyone" to comply with the ordinance. It does not matter if you are a blond haired, blue eyed Scandinavian or a dark haired, brown eyed Italian or happen to be of Hispanic origin ... if you are in this country illegally then ordnance applies!

The Federal Gov. is responsible for prosecuting or deporting illegal aliens ... these local governments are not prosecuting or deporting them. They are saying, if you can't prove you are in this country legally then you are breaking a Federal Law and we will not harbor, give you haven or be an accomplice in breaking the Laws Of This Land!

[Sender]

"These ordinances promote and encourage discrimination ... (and) heighten suspicion about anyone who looks or sounds foreign"

Anyone who looks or sounds foreign only has to show some documentation, then they are golden. It is only those who have no documentation (illegal) who are affected.

[AmeriBrit]

Did I miss the election when the ACLU were voted into office and given power over the wishes of the citizens of the U.S?????

[FlingWingFlyer]

Good article. Thanks for the link. I'm not a fan of YouTube or MySpace. I consider them both dumpsites along the cyberhighway.

[azhenfud]

"Once again it's the laws that are illegal and not those came here illegally that are the problem....JJ61"

LMAO. Spoken like a true criminals' advocate.

I invite you to first apply that logic to your OWN HOME, if you have one, and see how it works on a personal level.

[socialismisinsidious]

Aging Communists Leftover Union (Quinn in the morning...104.7)

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Believe it or not, Dane is actually right on this one, IMO. Give him some credit.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

The American Civil Liberals Union...

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Whom? nancy pelosi & co. or the "true conservatives". JMO, both have the same agenda, they hate the GOP.

Well, I must admit, it's not hard to: illegal aliens, Campaign Finance Deform, big-spending, spine-deficient, corruption-having, etc., etc.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Did I miss the election when the ACLU were voted into office and given power over the wishes of the citizens of the U.S?????

Did you sleep through Nov. 7?

[JustaDumbBlonde]

So the Constitution specifically permits and protects illegal immigrants? Who knew?

[TheLion]

The towns may be able to fight and win this. If the ACLU is fighting them, they must be right.

I was hoping thousands more juristrictions would do this and the ACLU would run out of money.

[TheLion]

Ping!