Judge halts enforcement of rental ban against illegal immigrants

Houston Chronicle ^ | May 21, 2007, 4:53PM | ANABELLE GARAY Associated Press Writer

[James W. Fannin]

Lawlessness. Anarchy.

[martin_fierro]

BIOGRAPHY
Birth:	1951
Year Service Began:	1998
Appointed by:	President William J. Clinton
Education:	St. Mary's University, San Antonio 1974 BA; University of Texas School of Law 1977 JD
Government:	Texas Aeronautics Commission 1977 - 1979; Dallas City Attorney's Office, 1979 - 1992; Dallas City Attorney 1992 - 1998
Current Memberships:	State Bar of Texas and Dallas Legal Association

Source

[Dilbert San Diego]

So it sounds as if only the federal government can pass any laws or take any action to deal with illegal immigration. Which brings us back to Washington and the back room deal that they are trying to pass right now.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Just say NO to Amnesty!!

U.S. Senate switchboard: (202) 224-3121

U.S. House switchboard: (202) 225-3121

White House comments: (202) 456-1111

Find your House Rep.: http://www.house.gov/writerep

Find your US Senators: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

[Road Warrior ‘04]

Yet again, legislating from the bench. Doesn’t matter what the voters say anymore.

[LeoWindhorse]

people need to think for a minute , How Mexico would react to MILLIONS of Americans , invading their country and then acting as total scofflaw’s.

If they wouldn't’t allow it , why should we ?

Stop the namby-pamby hypocrisy!
Parity !

[UCFRoadWarrior]

This ruling is a joke. More anti-American illegal alien amnesty.

I hope Farmers Branch fights this. I am tired of Latino Racist groups like La Raza (The Race) dictate that illegal aliens have more rights than American citizens

[bvw]

Ridiculous ruling.

[HarmlessLovableFuzzball]

You beat me to it !

[Hodar]

only the federal government can determine whether a person is in the United States legally.

While I hate the ruling, I understand it. Who's to say that these people aren't here on a Work VISA, Student VISA, H1B Visa or here as tourists or are political refugees (granted, this is a 0.001% likelihood).

We live in a Republic, not a Democracy; and this serves as a great example of why a Republic is superior. This is not a case of mob rule, the judge did his job and indicated 'Why' the law as written cannot work. Now, it is up to the township to find a way to get the same result, within the fabric of the law; or work to overturn that law, or work with the state to create a law that they can enforce.

Once this precedent is set, and the loopholes are filled, other towns can enact legally sound measures to accomplish what this town started.

[Old Sarge]

Black-robed Clintonistas once more.

Like the one Clintonista said: “It’ll take years for them to undo what we’ve done.”

[Congressman Billybob]

As soon as anyone finds and posts a link to the text of this decision, I will read the decision and post a thorough analysis of it. Let me know.

John / Billybob

[Vigilanteman]

Was it Teddy Roosevelt who thumbed his nose at the court and said "They have made their ruling. Now let them enforce it."? Or am I thinking of somebody else.

Somebody needs to stand up to the dictators in black robes.

[Vigilanteman]

Was it Teddy Roosevelt who thumbed his nose at the court and said "They have made their ruling. Now let them enforce it."? Or am I thinking of somebody else.

Somebody needs to stand up to the dictators in black robes.

[Popocatapetl]

The law was pretty unenforceable. There is no way somebody renting a room can tell if papers are fake or not. The only accessible citizenship database is for employers only, and any other use is unlawful.

What this means practically, is when they try and nail some landlord for renting to an illegal, he just shrugs and says “Their papers looked good to me”, and there’s not a dang thing they could do to prove otherwise.

The only way they could get around this would be to require that all persons renting in their city have to get police approval before they can rent. And *that* isn’t going to happen.

[fr_freak]

I know this won't happen, but I'd very much like to see this town tell the judge to shove it, and the town enforce their new law anyway. The fact of the matter is,the federal government has decided openly that its own law can be broken with impunity. Therefore, all local governments should consider the federal government to be in a state of complete abdication of authority, and they should therefore enforce their own laws as they see fit, in the manner of the sovereign states that they were also intended to be.

[Tarpon]

Well not exactly, the Congress passed a fence law in Oct 2006, I wonder if it was a “just kidding” law like all the others. If you ask me, that law serves as a good start point, when people ask what is your ideas, that’s what I say, build the fence that was voted into law last year.

If not, guess how the enforcement part of the current sham-nesty bill will turn out.

[Centurion2000]

Who's to say that these people aren't here on a Work VISA, Student VISA, H1B Visa or here as tourists or are political refugees

those people can validate their status.

[Principled]

Just change from “illegal immigrants” to “valid Driver License, SSN, plus anything else difficult for illegals to get.

The judge gave a way around this... just avoid “illegal immigrant”.