Hazleton, Pennsylvania passes an ordinance intended to make it "one of the most difficult places in the U.S. for illegal immigrants"

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

An Open Letter from Mayor Lou Barletta:

I believe the United States of America is the greatest nation on Earth. People who are in this country have an incredible amount of opportunities and blessings. But some people have taken advantage of America’s openness and tolerance. Some come to this country and refuse to learn English, creating a language barrier for city employees. Others enter the country illegally and use government services by not paying taxes or by committing crime on our streets, further draining resources here in Hazleton.

Illegal immigration leads to higher crime rates, contributes to overcrowded classrooms and failing schools, subjects our hospitals to fiscal hardship and legal residents to substandard quality of care, and destroys our neighborhoods and diminishes our overall quality of life.

The City of Hazleton is empowered and mandated by the people of Hazleton to abate the nuisance of illegal immigration by aggressively prohibiting and punishing the acts, policies, people and businesses that aid and abet illegal aliens. That is why I proposed the Illegal Immigration Relief Act.

Part of this ordinance, if enacted, would punish companies that hire illegal immigrants by denying them permits, making it harder for them to renew permits and forcing their loss of city business.

Another part would hold landlords accountable. Because people moving into the city naturally require a place to sleep, our landlords are our first line of defense. Landlords who rent to illegal immigrants—that is, who rent to people without checking their documentation, may be fined $1,000.00 for every illegal immigrant staying on their properties.

The final part of this ordinance makes English the official language of Hazleton. All city documents will only be available in English. Those applying for a permit would have to speak English. While our emergency services will never be denied to anyone because of a language barrier, every other aspect of city business will be conducted only in English. Let me be clear, this ordinance is intended to make Hazleton one of the most difficult places in the U.S. for illegal immigrants.

This measure is not racist because it does not target one particular race. The Illegal Immigration Relief Act is intended to deter and punish any illegal immigration in the City of Hazleton. Requiring the use of English does not target any other language; it merely states that no matter what language you prefer to speak at home, English will be spoken when you conduct business with Hazleton officials.

Illegal Immigration is a drain on city resources. Every domestic incident, every traffic accident, every noise complaint, each time we send our police department, fire department or code enforcement officer to respond, it costs taxpayer dollars.

If the City of Hazleton began publishing official documents or conducting business in a second language, how would we respond when someone asks us to use a third, or fourth language?

Recent crimes – the shooting on Chestnut Street, the discharge of firearms at the Pine Street Playground, and high profile drug busts – have involved illegal immigrants. Sadly, some of those allegedly involved in those crimes were detained by other law enforcement officials over the years, but were somehow allowed to remain in this country. They eventually migrated into Hazleton, where they helped create a sense of fear in the good, hardworking residents who are here legally.

This ordinance does not roll back the welcome mat to those who are legally in the United States. This country was built on the backs of legal immigrants. My own great grandparents came to this country seeking a better life. Rather, this ordinance seeks to stem the flow of illegal immigrants into Hazleton. They are not welcome here!

To the residents of Hazleton, I say thank you for your continued support. Hazleton is moving forward and becoming an even better place to live. To our recently arrived legal immigrants, I say welcome. I personally wish you all the best. With hard work and determination, the United States and Hazleton can be a place where your dreams come true. And to illegal immigrants and those who would hire or abet them in any way, I say your time is up. You are no longer welcome.

http://www.hazletoncity.org/illegal_immigration_petition.htm

The ordinance was later approved.. here is the PDF of the approved ordinance : http://www.hazletoncity.org/2006_10_Illega..._Act_%20NEW.pdf

[Ban Hammer 13,676]

An Open Letter from Mayor Lou Barletta:

I believe the United States of America is the greatest nation on Earth. People who are in this country have an incredible amount of opportunities and blessings. But some people have taken advantage of America’s openness and tolerance. Some come to this country and refuse to learn English, creating a language barrier for city employees. Others enter the country illegally and use government services by not paying taxes or by committing crime on our streets, further draining resources here in Hazleton.

Illegal immigration leads to higher crime rates, contributes to overcrowded classrooms and failing schools, subjects our hospitals to fiscal hardship and legal residents to substandard quality of care, and destroys our neighborhoods and diminishes our overall quality of life.

The City of Hazleton is empowered and mandated by the people of Hazleton to abate the nuisance of illegal immigration by aggressively prohibiting and punishing the acts, policies, people and businesses that aid and abet illegal aliens. That is why I proposed the Illegal Immigration Relief Act.

Part of this ordinance, if enacted, would punish companies that hire illegal immigrants by denying them permits, making it harder for them to renew permits and forcing their loss of city business.

Another part would hold landlords accountable. Because people moving into the city naturally require a place to sleep, our landlords are our first line of defense. Landlords who rent to illegal immigrants—that is, who rent to people without checking their documentation, may be fined $1,000.00 for every illegal immigrant staying on their properties.

The final part of this ordinance makes English the official language of Hazleton. All city documents will only be available in English. Those applying for a permit would have to speak English. While our emergency services will never be denied to anyone because of a language barrier, every other aspect of city business will be conducted only in English. Let me be clear, this ordinance is intended to make Hazleton one of the most difficult places in the U.S. for illegal immigrants.

This measure is not racist because it does not target one particular race. The Illegal Immigration Relief Act is intended to deter and punish any illegal immigration in the City of Hazleton. Requiring the use of English does not target any other language; it merely states that no matter what language you prefer to speak at home, English will be spoken when you conduct business with Hazleton officials.

Illegal Immigration is a drain on city resources. Every domestic incident, every traffic accident, every noise complaint, each time we send our police department, fire department or code enforcement officer to respond, it costs taxpayer dollars.

If the City of Hazleton began publishing official documents or conducting business in a second language, how would we respond when someone asks us to use a third, or fourth language?

Recent crimes – the shooting on Chestnut Street, the discharge of firearms at the Pine Street Playground, and high profile drug busts – have involved illegal immigrants. Sadly, some of those allegedly involved in those crimes were detained by other law enforcement officials over the years, but were somehow allowed to remain in this country. They eventually migrated into Hazleton, where they helped create a sense of fear in the good, hardworking residents who are here legally.

This ordinance does not roll back the welcome mat to those who are legally in the United States. This country was built on the backs of legal immigrants. My own great grandparents came to this country seeking a better life. Rather, this ordinance seeks to stem the flow of illegal immigrants into Hazleton. They are not welcome here!

To the residents of Hazleton, I say thank you for your continued support. Hazleton is moving forward and becoming an even better place to live. To our recently arrived legal immigrants, I say welcome. I personally wish you all the best. With hard work and determination, the United States and Hazleton can be a place where your dreams come true. And to illegal immigrants and those who would hire or abet them in any way, I say your time is up. You are no longer welcome.

http://www.hazletoncity.org/illegal_immigration_petition.htm

The ordinance was later approved.. here is the PDF of the approved ordinance : http://www.hazletoncity.org/2006_10_Illega..._Act_%20NEW.pdf

good post. the fine on landlords is a minimum of $1000.

start hitting people in the pocketbook with fines and the illegals will find there are no jobs or places to stay.

[gwenneh 7]

Yay for cracking down.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Good.

[Garfield fan 0]

[Peter Miami 0]

Very good!

Peter Miami

[Lizzy 0]

Im moving to Penn State, sounds good to me!

[pedroh 21]

how are the landlords gonna check the documentation? lol.. I've seen some really good copied id's.. why would the landlords have to pay a fine if they don't know how to identify a fake id?

[almaty 19]

damn, that means they are all going to new jersey....

[pedroh 21]

lol..

i mean, sure, employers can check the fake documents with SS ADmin and all that stuff.. but how is a landlord gonna do it? can they call the cops and ask 'hey, is this dude legal'?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

how are the landlords gonna check the documentation? lol.. I've seen some really good copied id's.. why would the landlords have to pay a fine if they don't know how to identify a fake id?

The text of the approved ordinance states:

"Any property owner or renter/tenant/lessee in control of property, who knowingly allows an illegal alien to use, rent or lease their property shall be in violation of this section."

I italicized the word knowingly because that is how landlords are protected. All an illegal alien has to do is be convincing enough (i.e. have good forgeries) and the landlord is pretty much off the hook.

Interestingly enough, I see no penalty in this ordinance for the actual illegal alien renter. The penalty is solely on the landlord.

[Scott & Lai 12]

how are the landlords gonna check the documentation? lol.. I've seen some really good copied id's.. why would the landlords have to pay a fine if they don't know how to identify a fake id?

I would think if they've made an honest attempt to check the documents, they'd be ok. If they make a photocopy of the identification, there would be proof that it was checked. This is also a good argument for some form of national i.d. with security measures like credit cards and atm cards.

[pedroh 21]

lol..

i mean, sure, employers can check the fake documents with SS ADmin and all that stuff.. but how is a landlord gonna do it? can they call the cops and ask 'hey, is this dude legal'?

not even people in retail are authorized to tell a guy 'well u know, this id looks a little bit fake'

Edited July 18, 2006 by pedroh

[incanada1234 0]

Awesome.

[peejay 327]

how are the landlords gonna check the documentation? lol.. I've seen some really good copied id's.. why would the landlords have to pay a fine if they don't know how to identify a fake id?

I never understood why I see the term 'undocumented workers". These illegal aliens have all kinds of documents...the problem is that they are counterfeit forgeries. Commonly known as document fraud. Unfortunately this institutional corruption needs to be addressed at the local level because the Federal government is corrupted and will not enforce the law (or does it hit and miss when it feels like it).

There is a program called "Basic Pilot" that employers (or landlords?) can use to verify Social Security numbers. But Federally it is voluntary. I guess it would put a damper on the existing institutional corruption to make it mandatory? I would think that one Social Security number and name used 150+ times across the entire USA to work simultaneously would set up a "red flag" that there was fraud occurring, but...

My guess is that without a mandatory verification program employers, landlords, and illegal aliens will continue to exploit this institutional corruption. Welcome to the Third World, American style.