The ACLU and MALDEF have filed a request for a temporary restraining order against Farmers Branch, Texas to stop their ordinance, which fines landlords who rent to illegal aliens, from going into effect May 22, 2007. In November, 2006 the city council of Farmers Branch unanimously approved of the rental ordinance. Then in December the ACLU filed a lawsuit against the city.
Illegal alien proponents, led by Travis Carter of Let the Voters Decide, decided it would be a good idea to let the residents of Farmers Branch vote on whether they wanted the ordinance. That was an ill conceived decision as the ordinance was passed by 68% of the voters of Farmers Branch. So now that the citizens have spoken, the illegal alien supporters are using the only tactic they have left, which is to call 68% of the town a bunch of racists and to file a lawsuit in court to block the ordinance from being enforced. This is the first time in the country that an ordinance of this nature has gone before voters of a community. I Hazleton, Pennsylvania and Escondido, California the ordinances were passed by the city councils.
AP
The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund and the American Civil Liberties Union, which have already sued the city, requested the temporary restraining order in U.S. District Court. A group of merchants also suing the city filed a separate request Tuesday to stop the ordinance's enforcement, activist Carlos Quintanilla said
The ordinance, scheduled to take effect next Tuesday, requires apartment managers to verify that renters are U.S. citizens or legal immigrants before leasing to them, with some exceptions. Violators face fines of up to $500.
"It is unfortunate that the residents of Farmers Branch have chosen to implement a law which is not only bad policy, but is likely also unconstitutional," said Lisa Graybill, legal director for the ACLU of Texas. "Now the issue will have to be resolved in federal court."
All I have to say is that the ACLU is a bunch of arrogant assholes. Lisa Graybill, with her comments above, in particular sounds like a major asshole. I can just hear her saying that with a nasally, whining voice "Now the issue will have to be resolved in federal court" and then making a little "tsk" sound like the people of Farmers Branch are a minor annoyance. On the issue of illegal immigration time and time again the citizens of this country and of cities are totally ignored. Big groups come in and push them around as if they have no rights of their own in this country.
You can donate to help at the Farmers Branch Legal Defense Fund.
This is almost a carbon copy of the case against Hazleton, Pennsylvania, who have also been sued by the ACLU.
Other Commentary:
Lonewacko
Daily Pundit
Hi Rhonda,
Go have a look at my Hazleton archive. It traced the Hazleton bill, which is similar to the Farmers Branch bill, from its inception to the restraining order placed on it at the request of the ACLU and then the nearly 2 week trial earlier this year (I covered the arguments and players daily).
Right now the Hazleton decision is still being made by a US District judge and no matter what the decision the case is expected to go all the way to the Supreme Court (either brought by Hazleton itself if they lose or by the ACLU if Hazleton wins).
Posted by: Digger on May 22, 2007 12:04 AM
