Farmers Branch, TX - Legal Defense Fund
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Posted on 12/27/2006 4:59:38 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Two civil rights groups filed a lawsuit Tuesday challenging a suburb's new law that outlaws renting to illegal immigrants, alleging the ordinance violates federal law and forces landlords to act as immigration officers.
The American Civil Liberties Union and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund filed the suit on behalf of Farmers Branch residents and landlords.
The law, along with a measure that made English the official language of the city, was passed in November and is scheduled to go into effect Jan. 12.
The lawsuit claims the ordinance is so poorly drafted that it excludes even legal immigrants from renting in the city just north of Dallas.
"Immigration enforcement must be left to the federal government, not each local municipality," said Lisa Graybill, legal director of the ACLU of Texas. "Otherwise Texas will end up with a patchwork system that is impractical and unenforceable."
Farmers Branch spokesman Tom Bryson said the city will not comment on pending litigation. City leaders had expected legal challenges like the one filed Tuesday, which is the third brought against the city since the ordinance passed.
"I don't know if there is any real expectation of what would be coming down the pipe and what wouldn't," Bryson said.
On Friday, three apartment complexes filed a lawsuit asking a federal court to halt the renter law from going into effect, saying it should be declared unconstitutional.
In November, City Council members unanimously approved having property managers or owners verify the immigration or citizenship status of apartment renters. Council members also approved resolutions making English the city's official language and allowing local authorities to become part of a federal program so they can enforce immigration laws.
In another lawsuit filed this month, a Farmers Branch resident alleged that the city's mayor repeatedly violated the state's open meetings laws to deliberate the ordinances.
Opponents of the ordinances have also submitted a petition that they hope will force a vote on the measures. If at the city verifies at least 726 of the signatures, a public vote is expected in May.
Since 1970, Farmers Branch has changed from a small, predominantly white bedroom community with a declining population to a city of almost 28,000 people, about 37 percent of them Hispanic, according to the census. It also is home to more than 80 corporate headquarters and more than 2,600 small and mid-size firms, many of them minority-owned.
More than 50 municipalities nationwide have considered, passed or rejected similar laws, but until now that trend hasn't been matched in the Lone Star State.
I guess the word "ILLEGAL" isn't in their vocabulary.
As a realtor, illegals are not part of the "protected" list I "HAVE" to sell to.
If they have no legal standing to be in our country, they ought to have no legal standing to sue. Let them file the lawsuit in Mexico. I'd love to see ACLU lawyers cooling their heals in a Mexican jail and perhaps being "the little jumping bean" for a big, hairy cellmate.
Fight back, America.
If you can ban people from hiring illegal aliens, then you can ban them from leasing to them.
The town should countersue claiming that the bozos at the aCLU are forcing them into aiding and abetting criminals. That's the aCLU's job.
I hope the case get to a proper court with pro-American judge.
Hell, our courts allow Islamic bandits from Afghanistan standing to sue. Our imperial judiciary at work.
On this point I agree. It would be far better if our immigration officers acted like immigration officers.
Ping!!!
Who did what now? The Feds have failed, time to take it down a notch.
"A citizen's arrest is a formal arrest by a citizen has no official government authority to make such an arrest as an agent of the government. The California Penal Code gives any citizen the right to make a citizen's arrest of another citizen in three alternative situations:
A public offense was committed or attempted in the citizen's presence.
The person arrested has committed a felony, although not in the citizen's presence.
A felony has been in fact committed and the citizen has reasonable cause for believing the person arrested has committed it.
Why do we need a statute like this? Why do we need a "citizen's arrest"? Well, as the crime rate goes up, it becomes more and more important that good citizens come to the aid of one another in distress. Without such a statute, only government agents, such as police, would have the authority to stop a felon in progress. By creating the "citizen's arrest" statute we give ordinary citizens the authority to hold another citizen without fear of being sued for false imprisonment. Without the statute, the citizen who interfered in criminal activity would risk such a lawsuit."
TITLE II--COMBATTING ALIEN SMUGGLING AND ILLEGAL ENTRY AND PRESENCE
Section 201. Definition of aggravated felony.
This section amends the definition of aggravated felony contained in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to include all smuggling offenses, illegal entry, and reentry crimes with a sentence of a year or more. It also makes the aggravated felony definition consistent with Federal criminal law by expanding it to include solicitation and assistance in specified offenses.
Good point. If we were enforcing the laws that are already on the books, this (nor any other) community would have to pass such an ordinance in the first place.
Do they have to wear seat belts?
ping
Absolutely.
Any one can come to Bellflower, Ca. where the illegals have displaced the legal population close to 80%.
I'm sick of it.
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Why should I be forced to rent to someone who isn't here legally? How do I know who this person is in case there's damage to MY property? How do I know this person will actually PAY his/her rent? How can I trust that the check he/she gave me for a security deposit is real? Etc., etc.
Let them live in the ACLU building, but don't force me to put my private property at risk.
why is illegal such an unknown concept to the lib/dems/msm/aclu???
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