Posted on 06/06/2010 7:34:08 AM PDT by mdittmar
FREMONT, Neb. (AP) — Legal action may be taken should Fremont voters approve rules cracking down on illegal immigrants, the American Civil Liberties Union warned Friday.
ACLU Nebraska leaders said they're hopeful voters will reject the proposal that bans hiring or renting to illegal immigrants on June 21.
But if they don't, an immediate injunction will likely be sought, said Laurel Marsh, executive director of ACLU Nebraska.
"We are hopeful that the voters will reject this pointless initiative," said the group's legal director, Amy Miller. "The law is crystal clear. Only the federal government can make laws about immigration. States and towns are out of line when they enter this area."
Under the proposal set for a June 21 vote, renters would have to get a license from the city. Afterward, city officials would be required to check a database to see if renters were in the country legally.
The ordinance also would require employers to check workers against the federal E-Verify database to see if they were in the country legally.
Kansas City, Mo.-based attorney Kris Kobach, who's been hired to represent the Fremont residents who sought the vote, said the ACLU's reaction was expected.
"They will quite often threaten communities with legal action," he said. "Sometimes they follow through with legal action, but rarely do they actually prevail."
Fremont is among a handful of Nebraska cities that have seen marked demographic changes primarily because of an influx of Hispanic workers at meatpacking plants. Illegal immigration has stirred strong opinions in the community of 25,000.
Supporters of the proposal say it's needed to make up for what they see as lax enforcement by federal officials.
Opponents say it could fuel discrimination.
The City Council had considered a policy similar to the proposed ordinance in 2008 and narrowly rejected it. But proponents collected enough signatures to put it on track to a public vote.
In April, the Nebraska Supreme Court said it wouldn't bar the election.
This would get me standing on street corners with signs supporting this bill.
Warns = threaten.....next the libtard ACLU will hire SEIU thugs to prevent such votings from taking place.....
Illegal immigration is a civil right???
What is with these people? This is not, and never has been, about “race” or “civil rights” - it’s about law, and, fairness to LEGAL residents. Illegal immigrants pull down wages, take jobs that Americans WOULD do if they were available to them (esp. with 10% unemployment) and paid more, and they’d pay more if there weren’t a bunch of illegals there willing to do them for $3.00 an hour under the table.
Aiding and abetting...
Yes!!! to Marxist treasonous scum ACLU it is....that is a given. they need to be tarred and feathered and run out of the country on a rail....
The ACLU is a left wing hate group.
“Illegal” is now synonymous with “legal.”
Good!!! It's time someone starting discriminating against illegal aliens!
I can say what should be done with the ACLU, but let’s keep the conversation bloodless.
Banning hiring of illegals is legally fine, because of eVerify. That is, it gives a means to employers to determine if someone is legal or illegal, and they are not liable if the system gets it wrong, which happens. All eVerify can do is determine if ID is legal, not if the person using it is legal.
The problem with the law is in the banning of renting to illegals part, because there is no way for someone who rents to determine if identification is sufficient to make the lease legal. That is, they have no access to eVerify. And if they guess wrong, they can get fined.
There is just no way this can stand up in court, and whoever proposed it probably knows that. Similar laws have already been thrown out elsewhere.
eVerify is totally controlled by the federal government. It *could* be changed to make it accessible to those who rent property, but it won’t be.
The Tea Party needs some effective means of standing up the these ACLU threats.
Perhaps we could sue for false advertising?
They are not American.
They are not Civil.
They protect no Liberties.
“We are hopeful that the voters will reject this pointless initiative,” said the group’s legal director, Amy Miller. “The law is crystal clear. Only the federal government can make laws about immigration. States and towns are out of line when they enter this area.”
Except when the Federal government selectively ignores Federal law. Then, it’s time to reassert States’ Rights.
Bully for Nebraska. And, the ACLU can go pound sand.
If Amy is dead, can she still intimidate?
Ooops...forgot....ACLU.Founded by proud,unapologetic Marxists.And staffed by same to this very day.
Let them beg on street corners like all the other bums.
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