Posted on 11/14/2006 6:27:13 PM PST by NormsRevenge
FARMERS BRANCH, Texas - Supporters say a sweeping ordinance intended to keep out illegal immigrants is necessary because the federal government has failed to address the issue. Critics argue the proposal could lead to sanctioned discrimination and racism.
Both sides are carefully watching if this Dallas suburb becomes the first city in Texas to adopt strict limits on anti-illegal immigration, a cause for concern among its large minority population.
A councilman has given city attorneys drafts of an ordinance that would make English the city's official language and proposals to fine companies and landlords who do business with illegal immigrants. The measure was expected to be submitted to the council on Monday, but there was no indication when it might be put to a vote.
More than 50 municipalities nationwide have considered, passed or rejected similar laws, but until now, that trend hasn't been matched in the Lone Star State.
"This is the first town in Texas that had the guts to do what's right," Susie Hart, who grew up in Farmers Branch, said during a recent demonstration outside City Hall. "The education system is tanking, health care has gone through the roof, everybody is bilingual."
Such sentiments and the proposed ordinance trouble many people in Texas, where many Latino families can trace their roots here to the era before statehood.
"This is not just a Farmers Branch problem," Elizabeth Villafranca said of the proposal.
Villafranca, whose family owns a Mexican restaurant here, said she worries that such laws will spread to other cities if the City Council approves the proposal.
Since 1970, Farmers Branch has changed from a small, predominantly white bedroom community with a declining population to a city of almost 28,000 people, about 37 percent of them Hispanic, according to the census.
It also is home to more than 80 corporate headquarters and more than 2,600 small and mid-size firms, many of them minority-owned.
The local debate over illegal immigration began in August and spawned demonstrations by both sides of the issue.
The Farmer's Branch proposal follows a vote this year in Hazleton, Pa., to fine landlords who rent to illegal immigrants, deny business permits to companies that employ them and require tenants to register and pay for a rental permit. However, a federal judge temporarily blocked enforcement of the Hazleton ordinance while he considers a lawsuit against the town by the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund, the American Civil Liberties Union and other groups.
More than a dozen other Pennsylvania cities have taken up similar ordinances, as have several others in the South and a handful in California.
Many of the municipalities have based their ordinances on a model provided by the Immigration Reform Law Institute, which favors limits on immigration and is affiliated with the Federation for American Immigration Reform.
"They've all expressed a great deal of frustration with the failure of the federal government to respond" to illegal immigration, said Mike Hethmon, the institute's general counsel.
Critics fear the anti-illegal immigration rules will fuel racism and discrimination.
"Many people are assuming that all immigrants are lawbreakers, and that people who are different, who speak a different language, are to be shunned," said Cesar Perales, president and general counsel of the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund.
**FILE PHOTO** Natalie Villafranca, 6, left, hold a flag as her mother, Elizabeth Villafranca, holds a sign in front of city hall in Farmers Branch, Texas, Aug. 26, 2006. The more than 300 people protested a proposal by City Councilman Tim O'Hare that would prohibit landlords from leasing to illegal immigrants, penalize businesses that employ undocumented workers and make English the city's official language. (AP Photo/L.M. Otero)
On the Net:
Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund: http://www.prldef.org/
Immigration Reform Law Institute:
http://www.irli.org/
These people have some nerve coming to the country and making demands.
Of course, they are encouraged by the President.
The title of the article is so biased.
What about the town's fear of losing jobs, of increased crime...etc
The federal gov has failed in enforcing the laws on the books.
The reality is mexicans dont like our white cracker
society, they arent going to assimilate wether they are given amnesty or not,they dont like you no matter what you give them because you are a honky white butt,
What is it going to take to get you to realize you are never going to be their friend?
Send a thank you to the City Manager for having the balls to represent the LEGAL citizens of the town. I just hope they don't back down in the face of expensive lawsuits by MALDEF, ACLU, LULAC etc.
Send email here. linda.groomer@farmersbranch.info
Hard not to assume a FACT.
It may have made a difference for some of us if the ILLEGAL aliens had at least faked a favorable regard for the opportunities here; even a little respect for our language and culture -- our businessmen and government had already told them, "Screw the borders, come on in!" -- would have helped.
Rather than gratitude and harmony the majority of ILLEGALS seem to have chosen harping and haranguing. A lot of eyes were opened last May -- can't blame the MSM for only featuring the trouble makers. The MSM didn't force those hundres of thousands to come out with their home country flags, shouting "yes we can!"
"Many people are assuming that all immigrants are lawbreakers"
Again confusing the facts! This just pisses me off. This is a story about ILLEGAL ALIENS. NOT LEGAL immigrants. An illegal alien IS a lawbreaker, now get this, BY THE VERY FACT THEY ARE HERE, and that only.
"Hard not to assume a FACT."
10-1 odds that had agroup of INS agents showed up at that rally, 1/2 Half of that crowd would have scattered...quickly.
Perhaps if it's true (which I doubt) it is because the MSM lumps ALL *immigrants* into one big pot constantly.
susie
The Hispanic block will NOT allow this to continue. Hide and watch, wait and see.
No problem, produce documents showing your legal and you have no problem. I have to when I stay in a foreign country, why shouldn't our illegal population.
Why is enforcing our laws considered racist?
Farmer's Branch, Texas
Gaston County, North Carolina
Hazleton, Pennsylvania
"Send a thank you to the City Manager for having the balls to represent the LEGAL citizens of the town"
Sent.
Done and done.
"The Hispanic block will NOT allow this to continue. Hide and watch, wait and see."
And the 'Citizens block' should in no uncertain terms remind them that aiding and abetting a criminal act is in itself a crime.
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