Small Town Takes On Immigration Problem

For about the next two months the residents of
both the town of Hazelton, Pa. and the country
will be on pins and needles awaiting the judges
decision in a case that could set a precedent.
At risk is weither landlords and employers can
be penalized for renting or employing illegal
immigrants. The defense argues that only the
federal government can enforce immigration policy.

Read the article below and then serve up your ownopinion on this hot issue.Attorneys for Hazleton, Pa., told a federal judge Thursday that the town's efforts to crack down on illegal residents would reinforce U.S. immigration policies, but civil liberties lawyers argued the issue should be left in the hands of Congress instead of local governments.The arguments closed the nation's first trial testing cities' right to enforce local laws against illegal immigration.U.S. District Judge James M. Munley's decision, which is not expected for at least two months, could set a national precedent for about 70 other communities that have or are considering similar measures.

The Illegal Immigration Relief Act approved by Hazleton City Council last year seeks to penalize landlords who rent to illegal immigrants and businesses that employ them. Munley put enforcement on hold for the challenge to its constitutionality; otherwise it would have taken effect Nov. 1, 2006.Lawyers for the American Civil Liberties Union and other groups filed the suit against Hazleton.The trial began March 12. Hazleton's ordinances were intended to protect residents from rising crime, gangs and a drain on social services caused by illegal immigrants, said lead Hazleton attorney Kris W. Kobach. Its act supports federal prohibitions on harboring or hiring illegal immigrants, he said.

Congress expects states and local governments to help the federal government detain and deport illegal immigrants, but the federal government has not done enough to stop illegal immigration, Kobach said."How can we participate if we don't know" who is in the country illegally? he asked. One Hazleton provision would require people to register with the city to prove their citizenship.Lawyers for the plaintiffs said illegal immigration was a complex issue that, if left to local governments, could harm international relations and the U.S. economy."This is not only about Hazleton," said Witold J. Walczak, lead lawyer for the ACLU of Pennsylvania.

"They want other towns to follow Hazleton's lead."The federal government considers whether an illegal immigrant was a victim of human trafficking or political persecution, or whether they have family responsibility in the U.S., he said, whereas "Hazleton's ordinances consider none of this.





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