Federal Government Slacking

Everyone hears me spout about less government and less regulations. I preach this all the time. What about the laws that are already on the books, though? I say if the law is in place - enforce it. Now if you don't like the law, change it or eliminate it, but if the law is on the books then we must go by them. Otherwise, why have a legal system at all? Everyone should, also, know my stand on illegal immigrants, by now.

Now here is an article describing a town's problems concerning it's passing of an ordinance regarding the prohibition of renting to illegals. Good for them, but civil liberties advocates want to ban the ban. Again, illegals are illegal (I know that's a tough concept). If a town wants to prevent them from moving into their community they are only doing what the federal government is failing to do, ie enforcing the laws that are on the books. If the federal government were doing it's job this would not even be a local issue.

Groups: Block Texas Town's Immigrant Ban
Tuesday, May 15th, 2007 at 11:23am DALLAS

Latino activists and civil liberties advocates asked a federal judge Tuesday to block a voter-approved ordinance that prohibits landlords from renting apartments to most illegal immigrants in the Dallas suburb of Farmers Branch.

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.

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."

City council members first approved the ban in November without discussion, then revised it in January to include exemptions for minors, seniors and some mixed-status families. On Saturday, residents voted to approve the ban with 68 percent of voters in favor, according to unofficial results.

Councilman Tim O'Hare, the ordinance's lead proponent, contends the city's economy and quality of life will improve if illegal immigrants are kept out. O'Hare declined to comment Tuesday.

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 U.S. Census Bureau.

Farmers Branch already faces four lawsuits brought by civil rights groups, residents, property owners and businesses, who say the ordinance discriminates and puts landlords in the precarious position of acting as federal immigration officers. Their attorneys argue the ordinance attempts to regulate immigration, a duty that is exclusively the federal government's.

Nationwide, more than 90 local governments have proposed, passed or rejected laws prohibiting landlords from leasing to illegal immigrants, penalizing businesses that employ them or training police to enforce immigration laws.

Someone tell me how this ordinance is unconstitutional. I have no problem with protecting the rights of our citizens regardless of their race, religious affiliation, sex, age, and so on. I do not feel illegals are afforded the same rights. If you what the rights that American's hold so dear then become an American. Until then - shut up.