Despite Legal Blockages, Hazelton PA Immigration Ordinances Succeed

From my ATSNN Article:

U.S. District Judge James Munley issued a temporary restraining order blocking the enforcement of city ordinances which impose new fines on landlords who rent to illegal immigrants, as well as denies business permits to companies that hire them. The laws were due to take effect on November 1, but were challenged in a law suit by the ACLU and Hispanic groups. The restraining order expires November 14, pending a hearing on the plaintiff's motion for a temporary injunction.

www.cbsnews.com

Mayor Lou Barletta, who spearheaded the law, has argued that illegal immigrants have brought an increase in drugs, crime and gangs to the city. The city's lawyers on Tuesday cited a 10 percent increase in crime between 2004 and 2005 as a reason why the ordinances should be enforced.

Munley, however, wrote that the city “offers only vague generalizations about the crime allegedly caused by illegal immigrants, but has nothing concrete to back up these claims.”

Hazleton's crackdown, which was announced in June, has received national attention and spurred other towns to pass similar laws, saying that the federal government has not done enough about illegal immigration. Municipal officials view the Hazleton lawsuit and a similar one in Riverside, New Jersey, as test cases.

Please visit the link provided for the complete story.

The effect on the town since the passing of those laws has been quite dramatic, with many or most of the illegals taking flight to more receptive areas. Goal achieved, and the laws hadn't even gone to effect yet!

Hispanics flee Pa. town as first-of-its-kind law targeting illegal immigrants goes into effect

On Wednesday, a tough, first-of-its-kind law targeting illegal immigrants goes into effect in this small hillside city in northeastern Pennsylvania. But the evidence suggests many Hispanics _ illegal or otherwise _ have already left.

That, in turn, has hobbled the city's Hispanic business district, where some shops have closed and others are struggling to stay open.

Hispanics began settling in large numbers in Hazleton several years ago, lured from New York, Philadelphia and other cities by cheap housing, low crime and the availability of work in nearby factories and farms. The city, situated 80 miles from Philadelphia, estimates its population has increased from 23,000 to 31,000 over the past six years, with Hispanics now representing 30 percent of the population.

The article goes on to point out that it has hurt certain businesses in the Hispanic section of town, and that is to be expected to some extent wherever this occurs. But in my view it was business that was built on false, illegal dreams in the first place. When is corporate America going to stop relying on illegal immigrant labor to offset rising costs and gain an unfair competitive advantage in the marketplace?

Answer: when American towns such as Hazelton are forced to take the issue into their own hands and DO something about it, apparently.

Now if we could get more towns to do the same .On the other hand companys will still get away with it . Wabash National Trailer was geting heat for hirering illigels, they just have a company like ATC employ them now

[edit on 1-11-2006 by deadcatsrule]

Originally posted by deadcatsrule
...On the other hand companys will still get away with it .

Well, some companies might still get away with it, true. But who are they going hire? This case in Hazelton illustrates that when the local population puts up a fight, the illegals will leave voluntarily. And all in all, that's probably the best policy, as it achieves the desired effect, for some, and no doubt will piss off others (mainly the employers who are used to making damn good money off the illegal labor).

But your point is exactly what THE POINT is. If all cities did this, the sheer amount of legal battles would be prohibitive and put a huge strain on the system. Ultimately, the feds and courts are going to have to go along with such a mass appeal, and ultimately, illegal immigrants will have no more place to go in this country.

And then it will be high time for Mexico and other latin american countries to deal with economic problems facing their own countries, and provide enough jobs to these people so they can still survive.

I wouldn't doubt that ultimately it will improve our economy, as these "used to be good paying jobs" become good paying jobs again, and desirable by the legal american workforce.