Posted on 07/26/2007 11:01:07 AM PDT by Pyro7480
ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) -- A federal judge on Thursday struck down the city of Hazleton's tough immigration law, which has been emulated by cities around the country. The Illegal Immigration Relief Act sought to impose fines on landlords who rent to illegal immigrants and deny business permits to companies that give them jobs. Another measure would have required tenants to register with City Hall and pay for a rental permit.
It was pushed by Hazleton's Republican mayor last summer after two illegal immigrants were charged in a fatal shooting.
Hispanic groups and illegal immigrants sued in federal court to overturn the measures, saying they usurp the federal government's exclusive power to regulate immigration, deprive residents of their constitutional rights to equal protection and due process, and violate state and federal housing law.
Must be the "Illegal aliens shall not be burdened by common sense laws" part of the US Constitution.
>>After renters are required to have a “renters permit”, then comes surprise inspections to make sure people have their papers, forefiture of property if “illegal renters” are found to be living there and so forth. Then, the list of offenses which will preclude one from being issued a “renters permit” will increase. You can bet your life on that.
The notion that any level of government can require a person to pay them to be “allowed” to rent property to live in needs to be wiped from existance. Its sad that conservatives would support such a notion simply because it was brought up as a possible “solution” to illegal immigration.<<
1. Yep.
2. Some of other parts of the law could perhaps be reimplemented, maybe a bit more carefully. So far Georgia’s anti-illegal laws are holding up.
Impeach everyone!
Lawbreakers in black robes alert!
>>Lawbreakers in black robes alert!<<
We should have a key word for that. :)
Illegal aliens not only can legally sue any citizen, they get free legal representation.
Hazelton can appeal this, but the next stop is the US Supreme Court. Whether they hear it or not, I don’t know. Usually it takes a difference of opinion between federal districts to get them to do that. If there is no contravening opinion, then this would probably stand in this district.
Not exactly correct. Hazelton can, will, and should appeal the decision to the 3rd Circuit. Circuit courts sit between District court and the Supreme court, and generally must take all cases that come their way.
Indeed! It would be helpful, as there are so many of these kinds of cases which exist.
: )
I get “error in reading linearized hint data” message when I click that link. It wont load for me.
In Cuba, el Jefe Jorge Busheron would simply decree that Hazleton must accept its illegals and that its residents are not allowed to care about the side effects such as increased crime or public urination.
Fortunately, this is the United States and Hazleton is allowed to fight back. Since the ordinance passed the city council and its mayor has been overwhelmingly reelected (as a Democrat and Republican simultaneously), one can assume the citizens want this (except maybe for those profiting from the presence of illegals).
The problem has been repeatedly described in many threads on FreeRepublic. A house is rented out as a group home and suddenly you have problems with crime, sanitation and decidedly unpleasant public behavior.
Now the people of Hazleton want to know who is renting in order to prevent this. This is federalism, local government and grass roots behavior. Precisely the opposite of Cuba.
First, the fact its a real long opinion indicates it has a weak and twisted argument supporting it. Second the court arguably lacked jurisdiction since ONLY illegals who had been harmed would have standing. Third, if they only illegals have standing, they also have unclean hands and are barred from having the court hear their claim. This Judge way overstepped his bounds.
What happens if the town just ignores the judge’s ruling?
Will be reversed if appealed.
Burning judges’ houses, hanging them in effigy and decaptating the effigy and threatening them to make them resign when democratic means are available would be legally terrorism and it would be morally and ethically wrong.
All well and good.
But what if nothing else will dissuade autocratic judges from dismembering our society, and culture? What then?
Quite frankly, I have little faith in the "democratic means" of removing from office judges who are endangering the nation. How often do you actually see a judge or justice removed by such means?
Perhaps it _is_ time for a modern day "Sons of Liberty" movement in America.
- John
As a practical matter, why should local governments be concerned about what the federal government has to say on this issue? After all, it’s federal law that isn’t being enforced to begin with. So, they are going to start now?
If this is in Breaking News, I need a nickel in my cup cause I don’t see it! Sadly newsworthy event. :(
>> Quite frankly, I have little faith in the “democratic means” of removing from office judges who are endangering the nation. How often do you actually see a judge or justice removed by such means?
Perhaps it _is_ time for a modern day “Sons of Liberty” movement in America.<<
No. As painful as it may be, the way to change the judiciary is to consistently elect people who will appoint good judges. Recall can be used for particularly egregious cases. Insurrection cannot ethically or morally be on the table while there are democratic options. Not to mention, we are in the middle of a war against terrorism, that makes it a particularly dangerous and wrong time to even consider using violence domestically.
L awbreakers
I n
B lack
R obes
A lert
Libra, the constellation that represents the Scales ... of Justice.
Time to tilt 'em back.
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