City Passes Harsh Law Against Illegal Immigrants

dia99 · 07-14-2006, 12:30 PM

Full article here

Now that this case has passed, I think more cities will soon follow. I know immigration is a complex issue, but this makes me very disheartened.

Quote:

HAZLETON, Pa. (July 14) - The City Council approved a law Thursday night designed to make this small city in northeastern Pennsylvania among the most hostile places in the U.S. for illegal immigrants to live or work.

The 4-to-1 vote came after nearly two hours of passionate debate. Opponents argued it was divisive and possibly illegal, but supporters said illegal immigrants' growing numbers have damaged the quality of life here.

"We must draw the line, and we are doing it tonight," Mayor Lou Barletta told a packed council chambers.

Barletta proposed the Illegal Immigration Relief Act last month as a response to what he said were Hazleton's problems with violent crime, crowded schools, hospital costs and the demand for services.

The ordinance would deny licenses to businesses that employ illegal immigrants, fine landlords $1,000 for each illegal immigrant discovered renting their properties, and require city documents to be in English only.

"The illegal citizens, I would recommend they leave," Barletta said after the meeting.

"What you see here tonight, really, is a city that wants to take back what America has given it," said the mayor, who said he wore a bulletproof vest to the meeting. He said he had not been threatened but took precautions because the issue was so emotionally charged.

Outside City Hall, about 300 people gathered with opponents of the measure, some with signs that read "Bias," separated by a line of police from supporters, some waving American flags.

Anna Arias spoke at the council meeting against the law. She asked the council, "Are any of us ready to support U.S. citizens born of someone who is undocumented?" Several people in the audience responded, "Yes!"

She warned the council that approving the ordinance would make Hazleton "the first Nazi city in the country."

Council Vice President Jack Mundie voted for the ordinance.

"We're against illegal immigrants that are coming here and that are draining the resources of our city," he said.

The Republican mayor's proposal has thrust the city, with a population of 31,000, to the fore of the national debate on illegal immigration.

The number of Hispanic residents in Hazleton, a former coal-mining town about 80 miles northwest of Philadelphia, has increased dramatically in the past six years.

internetchick · 07-14-2006, 12:37 PM

Reminds of a vanity plate I saw on a car a few weeks back. It said "Welcome to America. Now Go Home"

PartyHair · 07-14-2006, 12:38 PM

I don't agree with that law, but I do agree that businesses that employ illegal aliens should be held responsible in some way.

I also think that Mexico, where I believe the majority of illegals hail from, should be making major changes too. If there were jobs there that paid well enough to support a family, there wouldn't be such a tide of illegals trying to cross the border.

That being said, I don't think AT ALL that the illegals themselves aren't at fault - of course they are. They could've become citizens. Yes, it's a lengthy and difficult process...but there IS a process.

This situation is going to get much, much uglier before it gets any better, I'm afraid. There are no cut and dried answers.

geeky · 07-14-2006, 12:41 PM

I agree with fining businesses that hire illegal immigrants. People come here because they can get jobs. If the lawmakers are serious about not encouraging illegal immigrants, then they need to start there.

The landlords and english only provisions are ridiculous.
I also think it's ridiculous that it is assumed that illegal immigrants bring crime, when they admittedly oin the article don't know how many illegal immigrants there are or what is actually causing the crime.

PartyHair · 07-14-2006, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geeky

I agree with fining businesses that hire illegal immigrants. People come here because they can get jobs. If the lawmakers are serious about not encouraging illegal immigrants, then they need to start there.

The landlords and english only provisions are ridiculous.
I also think it's ridiculous that it is assumed that illegal immigrants bring crime, when they admittedly oin the article don't know how many illegal immigrants there are or what is actually causing the crime.

Totally agree.

Befrizzled · 07-14-2006, 12:43 PM

This city is in my general area. It's been a pretty touchy issue. I can see his point, but I'm not sure I agree. I mean, the crime rate there is terrible, and so much of that is within the illegal immigrant population. The mayor has made the point before (didn't read this particular article because it's been all over the news here) that the law doesn't name any specific ethnicity or language, and that they're concerned with anyone here illegally. It's also been mentioned that he's just pushing them out into the surrounding cities (mine included), and that these cities are going to be almost forced into making the same kind of law.

spiderlashes5000 · 07-14-2006, 12:51 PM

I do not condone breaking the law...and that's what undocumented immigrants are doing, as are the employers who hire them and property owners who *knowingly* rent to them. Yes, hit them in the wallet.

The English-only thing? No, that's stupid. Let people read in the language they like and are most proficient in.

If you want provide entre to more prospective immigrants, change the US immigration laws! Don't try to circumvent them...

outtahere · 07-14-2006, 12:53 PM

I mean, the crime rate there is terrible, and so much of that is within the illegal immigrant population.

I'm going to warn you ahead of time that certain folks here will dispute that till the end. I don't care if you have statistics or newscasts, or whatever to back it up. Or maybe I'm the only one they like to jump on, but they also went after someone else for posting something similar. You may've already seen the other immigration threads. There's something about race-related topics and this board... Just a word of warning.

Once bitten, twice shy - I'm backing out of the conversation right now!

geeky · 07-14-2006, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kenzie_06

I'm going to warn you ahead of time that certain folks here will dispute that till the end. I don't care if you have statistics or newscasts, or whatever to back it up. Or maybe I'm the only one they like to jump on, but they also went after someone else for posting something similar. You may've already seen the other immigration threads. There's something about race-related topics and this board... Just a word of warning.

Once bitten, twice shy - I'm backing out of the conversation right now!

Perhaps you are the one people like to jump on becaue you like to take every opportunity to remind everyone that you were the one that said Latino immigrants bring crime. Just a thought.

Befrizzled · 07-14-2006, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kenzie_06

I mean, the crime rate there is terrible, and so much of that is within the illegal immigrant population.

I'm going to warn you ahead of time that certain folks here will dispute that till the end. I don't care if you have statistics or newscasts, or whatever to back it up. Or maybe I'm the only one they like to jump on, but they also went after someone else for posting something similar. You may've already seen the other immigration threads. There's something about race-related topics and this board... Just a word of warning.

Once bitten, twice shy - I'm backing out of the conversation right now!

I read in a post that there were no statistics, but there were many specific cases named in interviews here. I'm the first to admit that since the mayor was the one giving the information, and he's for the law, I didn't hear the other side. It's not something I'm really going to argue, because I don't information from both sides in Hazleton. So if people disagree and dispute it, I'm not going to step in and argue the other side. I know when I don't know enough to argue a point well.

ETA: Just to make it clear, I do not think that immigrants, illegal or otherwise, inherently bring crime with them.

BohemianRenegade · 07-14-2006, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spiderlashes5000

I do not condone breaking the law...and that's what undocumented immigrants are doing, as are the employers who hire them and property owners who *knowingly* rent to them. Yes, hit them in the wallet.

The English-only thing? No, that's stupid. Let people read in the language they like and are most proficient in.

If you want provide entre to more prospective immigrants, change the US immigration laws! Don't try to circumvent them...

Quote:

require city documents to be in English only.

The English only thing is for official documents, so that makes sense. I think they finally made English the U.S.'s official language (or they are trying to), so yes goverment documents should be in English only.

07-14-2006, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geeky

I agree with fining businesses that hire illegal immigrants. People come here because they can get jobs. If the lawmakers are serious about not encouraging illegal immigrants, then they need to start there.

The landlords and english only provisions are ridiculous.
I also think it's ridiculous that it is assumed that illegal immigrants bring crime, when they admittedly oin the article don't know how many illegal immigrants there are or what is actually causing the crime.

I could not agree more

papayahed · 07-14-2006, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CelticMoonDance

Quote:

Originally Posted by geeky

I agree with fining businesses that hire illegal immigrants. People come here because they can get jobs. If the lawmakers are serious about not encouraging illegal immigrants, then they need to start there.

The landlords and english only provisions are ridiculous.
I also think it's ridiculous that it is assumed that illegal immigrants bring crime, when they admittedly oin the article don't know how many illegal immigrants there are or what is actually causing the crime.

I could not agree more

Me too.

ZzZoe · 07-14-2006, 01:12 PM

Barletta doesnt sound like a native American surname to me.

spiderlashes5000 · 07-14-2006, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BethanyRenee

Quote:

Originally Posted by spiderlashes5000

I do not condone breaking the law...and that's what undocumented immigrants are doing, as are the employers who hire them and property owners who *knowingly* rent to them. Yes, hit them in the wallet.

The English-only thing? No, that's stupid. Let people read in the language they like and are most proficient in.

If you want provide entre to more prospective immigrants, change the US immigration laws! Don't try to circumvent them...

Quote:

require city documents to be in English only.

The English only thing is for official documents, so that makes sense. I think they finally made English the U.S.'s official language (or they are trying to), so yes goverment documents should be in English only.

I'm no 100% here, but I think the vote was to make English the "national" language. There is a difference, I believe, between that and an "official" language. I believe one requires all docs to be in English and the other (less stringent) says that there is no responsibility on the part of the government to provide docs in any language besides English...if it doesn't want to. And I think the "national language" thing is the less stringent. But not 100% sure. And if it is, it may be left up to the local municipality or county or state to interpret it as it sees fit.

geeky · 07-14-2006, 01:18 PM

I think it's good to remember that there are plenty of legal immigrants in this country. And having documents in their native language can help make their lives easier during either their temporary stay or through the process of becoming legal immigrants and learning English.

I think the English-only provision is just punitive and xenophobic, pure and simple.

dia99 · 07-14-2006, 01:21 PM

I wonder how or if this will affect school systems. We are required to be sure the parent can understand what we're saying/writing to a high extent, and it is illegal for us to ask for documentation of citizenship. Will it become legal for us to deny the children of illegal immigrants education so that we're not aiding the cause? Or, will the government start accessing school records for the purpose of monitoring illegal immigrants?

spiderlashes5000 · 07-14-2006, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dia99

I wonder how or if this will affect school systems. We are required to be sure the parent can understand what we're saying/writing to a high extent, and it is illegal for us to ask for documentation of citizenship. Will it become legal for us to deny the children of illegal immigrants education so that we're not aiding the cause? Or, will the government start accessing school records for the purpose of monitoring illegal immigrants?

I seriously doubt they would place that burden on a teacher.

But yes, I can see the kids' school records being an automatic target...so easy.

dia99 · 07-14-2006, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spiderlashes5000

Quote:

Originally Posted by dia99

I wonder how or if this will affect school systems. We are required to be sure the parent can understand what we're saying/writing to a high extent, and it is illegal for us to ask for documentation of citizenship. Will it become legal for us to deny the children of illegal immigrants education so that we're not aiding the cause? Or, will the government start accessing school records for the purpose of monitoring illegal immigrants?

I seriously doubt they would place that burden on a teacher.

But yes, I can see the kids' school records being an automatic target...so easy.

No, I didn't mean teachers (sorry). I meant school systems, and individual school administrators (principals, business managers, secretaries, etc.) - the office staff is who does intake.

velvet paws · 07-14-2006, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geeky

I think it's good to remember that there are plenty of legal immigrants in this country. And having documents in their native language can help make their lives easier during either their temporary stay or through the process of becoming legal immigrants and learning English.

I think the English-only provision is just punitive and xenophobic, pure and simple.

Yes.

Also, I just want to say that if people want to illegal immigrants out of the country so badly, I hope they are willing to deal with the impacts on their own lifestyle that change is going to bring. Somehow I doubt the more vociferous supporters of the anti-Mexican movement (because let's just call it what it is) have really thought that through.

Illegal Immigrants are just 2006's Gay Marriage - an emotionally charged, divisive issue designed to distract folks. Are people really that stupid? Has the United States collectively gone nuts? I mean, wtf?