Federal court blocks Hazleton's illegal immigrant law

[Zummie]

Federal court blocks Hazleton's illegal immigrant law
By Michael Rubinkam, The Associated Press

A federal appeals court ruled Thursday that Hazleton, Pa., may not enforce its crackdown on illegal immigrants, dealing another blow to 4-year-old regulations that inspired similar measures around the country.

The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia said that Hazleton's Illegal Immigration Relief Act usurped the federal government's exclusive power to regulate immigration.

"It is … not our job to sit in judgment of whether state and local frustration about federal immigration policy is warranted. We are, however, required to intervene when states and localities directly undermine the federal objectives embodied in statutes enacted by Congress," wrote Chief Judge Theodore McKee.

The northeastern Pennsylvania city had sought to fine landlords who rent to illegal immigrants and deny business permits to companies that give them jobs. A companion measure required prospective tenants to register with City Hall and pay for a rental permit.

Mayor Lou Barletta had pushed the measures in 2006 after two illegal immigrants were charged in a fatal shooting. The Republican mayor, now mounting his third try for Congress, argued that illegal immigrants brought drugs, crime and gangs to the city of more than 30,000 and overwhelmed police, schools and hospitals.

Hispanic groups and illegal immigrants sued to overturn the measures, and a federal judge struck them down following a trial in 2007. The laws have never been enforced.

"We're glad that the court recognized that allowing states and municipalities to set up alternate employment and housing regulations for immigrants will lead to an unworkable patchwork of laws," said Vic Walczak of the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania, which represented the plaintiffs.

Barletta did not immediately return a phone message Thursday.

Hazleton's act was copied by dozens of municipalities around the nation that believe the federal government hasn't done enough to stop illegal immigration.

The crux of the debate has now shifted to Arizona and its strict new law, provisions of which include requiring officers to check a person's immigration status while enforcing other laws. A judge has blocked the law's most controversial provisions.

In the Hazleton case, the appeals court said the city's ordinances conflict with federal immigration law and thus are pre-empted.

_________________________

So will go the Arizona law.

[marlin_mike_]

can someone send in more clowns to the party.
we have a small uprising right now over on this side over being told to stand still and put the knife down??????
and they wonder why THIS IS WHY
sorry to rant but it has to stop sometime right?????

[Zummie]

Do you know who said this ??


"America’s immigration system is outdated, unsuited to the needs of our economy and to the values of our country. We should not be content with laws that punish hardworking people and deny businesses willing workers and invite chaos at our border. It is time for an immigration policy that permits temporary guest workers to fill jobs Americans will not take, that rejects amnesty, that tells us who is entering and leaving our country, and that closes the border to drug dealers and terrorists."

[Avenger]

Knowing your little leftist games, and because I seem to remember him saying this, I'm going to say George W. Bush.

Regardless, whoever said it is 100% correct.

So who do you sue to get the feds to enforce their own laws?

[Zummie]

If you agree with the quote then you agree the law is broken. We can't enforce broken laws and this is why they have NOT been enforced by either party (remember that for 6 years the Repubs has total control of both the Presidency and the Congress and the immigration laws were not enforced then either). What needs to happen is the law needs to be overhauled where we have a liberal guest worker program and AFTER this is done then the law can be given some teeth.

[Avenger]

We enforce plenty of broken laws when it suits the gov't to do so. Obviously there's something else going on here, most likely $$$ related that's keeping both parties from stepping up when the public is clearly unhappy with the tide of illegals flooding the country.

I can figure out why the Dems are all for the "undocumented future democrats" but I haven't quite sorted out why the Reps are apparently comitting political suicide. Any ideas?

[Zummie]

A lotta people feel that the reason the Repubs never did anything about immigration in the six years they controlled both the Presidency and the Congress was that the Repus owned or were controlled by the very businesses which were/are the primary employers of the illegals.

The easiest way to shut down the influx would be to just enforce heavy fines against the employers. When there are no jobs they won't come. The law now says to fine the employer for hiring an illegal the government must prove the employer KNEW the person was illigal. Once the employer gets a fake social card they are off the hook. Just make it so that employer is responsible for checking to make sure the person is legal and the problem ends. So, Why wasn't this simple solution implemented by the REpubs???? Answer: too anti-business.

[hubris 1]

The northeastern Pennsylvania city had sought to fine landlords who rent to illegal immigrants and deny business permits to companies that give them jobs. A companion measure required prospective tenants to register with City Hall and pay for a rental permit.




I dont understand something. I pasted the above statement, I didnt say it. Why not enforce the zoning laws and forget about the immigration laws. I never went to law school but they could accomplish the very same thing enforcing zoning laws. And courts do take them serious. In fact, they take the landlord to court for what ever violation they think a tenant has done.

[Zummie]

The northeastern Pennsylvania city had sought to fine landlords who rent to illegal immigrants and deny business permits to companies that give them jobs. A companion measure required prospective tenants to register with City Hall and pay for a rental permit.




I dont understand something. I pasted the above statement, I didnt say it. Why not enforce the zoning laws and forget about the immigration laws. I never went to law school but they could accomplish the very same thing enforcing zoning laws. And courts do take them serious. In fact, they take the landlord to court for what ever violation they think a tenant has done.

Zoning usually only deals with appearances and types and sizes of structures and setbacks. Are you possibly suggest they pass a zoning ordinance prohibiting brown people from living in a certain area?

[hubris 1]

Zoning usually only deals with appearances and types and sizes of structures and setbacks. Are you possibly suggest they pass a zoning ordinance prohibiting brown people from living in a certain area?

But there are zoning codes that deal with rentals. And How many people live in them. And Who they are. And How many cars they have. And where they park.
Plus, I have seen it first hand. Neighbors simply lie about what they see. Its always the same thing, accuse them of stealing change from your car, peeing outside, making noise, taking parking that is for residents. Dont think it cant be done, research it. They do it every day. Depending of course upon convenience.