Neb. city votes to restrict illegal immigration

Neb. city votes to restrict illegal immigration

Jun 22, 6:59 AM (ET)

By JOSH FUNK





FREMONT, Neb. (AP) - This small Nebraska meatpacking town has joined Arizona at the center of a national debate about illegal immigration after voters approved a ban on hiring or renting property to illegal immigrants, but an expected court challenge could keep the measure from ever taking effect.

The American Civil Liberties Union already has promised to file a lawsuit to block enforcement of the proposal roughly 57 percent of Fremont voters supported Monday.

"In a community of 25,000, it's going to be hard to take on the whole country, and it will be costly to do so," said Fremont City Councilman Scott Getzschman, who opposed the measure but said city leaders would support the results.

Fremont's vote is the latest chapter in the tumult over illegal immigration across the country, including a recently passed Arizona law that will require police investigating another incident or crime to ask people about their immigration status if there's a "reasonable suspicion" they are in the country illegally.

The Fremont measure will require would-be renters to apply for a license from the city. Officials must refuse to issue a license to applicants found to be in the country illegally. The ordinance also requires businesses to use the federal E-Verify database to ensure employees are allowed to work.

The city, which is about 35 miles northwest of Omaha, has watched as its Hispanic population surged in the past two decades, largely due to the jobs available at the nearby Fremont Beef and Hormel meatpacking plants.

Supporters argued the measure is needed to make up for what they see as lax federal law enforcement. Opponents said it could fuel discrimination.

Linda Nafziger said she voted for the ordinance because she doesn't think the community should be supporting illegal immigrants. But she acknowledged the measure won't end illegal immigration.

"They'll just move somewhere else and be somebody else's problem," she said.

Trevor McClurg said the measure is fair because it's aimed at people who aren't legally in the U.S.

"I don't think it's right to be able to rent to them or hire them," McClurg said. "They shouldn't be here in the first place."

Some residents worry that jobs are going to illegal immigrants who they fear could drain community resources.

Kristin Ostrom, who helped organize opposition to the measure, said she was never convinced of that. Fremont's unemployment rate matches the Nebraska rate of 4.9 percent, and both remain well below the national rate of 9.7 percent.

"It's unfortunate that the majority of voters didn't understand that we really don't have an illegal immigration problem in Fremont," she said.

The Hispanic population in Fremont, including both legal and illegal residents, surged from about 165 in 1990 to 1,085 in 2000, according to census expert David Drozd at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He said an estimated 2,060 Hispanics lived there last year.

Communities that have passed similar laws have struggled to enforce them because of legal challenges. Hazleton, Pa., passed an ordinance in 2006 to fine landlords who rent to illegal immigrants and deny permits to businesses hiring them. The Dallas suburb of Farmers Branch also has tried for years to enforce a ban on landlords renting to illegal immigrants. Federal judges struck down both ordinances, but both are on appeal.

The ACLU of Nebraska promised to sue over the Fremont measure even before Monday's vote.

"Not only do local ordinances such as this violate federal law, they are also completely out of step with American values of fairness and equality," said Laurel Marsh, executive director of ACLU Nebraska.

Kansas City, Mo.-based attorney Kris Kobach, who helped write the Arizona law, worked on the ordinance in Fremont and has said he thinks it could withstand a court challenge. He is also running for secretary of state in Kansas.

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Online:

City of Fremont's information on proposed ordinance: www.fremontne.gov...

Dodge County Election Commissioner: www.dodgecounty.ne.gov...
www.drudgereport.com...

Why To Go FREMONT, Nebraska.

Yes, that took some Gonads.

To preface this, I am in no way against immigration or anyone of any ilk, creed, nationality, color, persuasion, religion, etc. But I do take great issue with the notion of people who break the law being coddled up to as if they're victims.

The very idea that we've gotten to the point where we have to pass laws which do nothing but seek to enforce, well, our laws, is absolutely pathetic.

[edit on 6/22/10 by Hefficide]

reply to post by Hefficide

Your absolutely correct, We have to pass these laws because of the corrupt politicians that want the federal law ignored, I assume for votes.
You know, Vote for me, I'll set you free.

Not to a dip but does this town REALLY have an II problem? It's Nebraska for christ sake. I looked for II numbers for Nebraska and couldn't find any. Maybe a town that wants to be on the map.

reply to post by intrepid


Actually according to this site there are only 760 foreign born citizens in town there. I haven't found, yet, if this number reflects any potential illegal residents or not.

Info for Fremont, Nebraska

But I did notice that there were zero homicides there in the covered one year period, so that might be a clue as to why they are reacting strongly. A fear of imported criminal activity... Food for thought.

reply to post by intrepid

And you have a problem with preventive maintenance?

Why wait if can test the waters now? Really do you think it's to cool there for Illegals? I know Chinese people that really, really like the cold, the city my wife was born and raised in average temp in winter, -5 degrees in the day time.

I would have to believe they had some sort of a problem or this would never had been brought to a vote. We're not hearing the whole story.

Originally posted by guohua
reply to post by intrepid

 

And you have a problem with preventive maintenance?

Nope, don't have a problem with preventative maintenance. I DO have a problem with fear mongering.

Why wait if can test the waters now? Really do you think it's to cool there for Illegals? I know Chinese people that really, really like the cold, the city my wife was born and raised in average temp in winter, -5 degrees in the day time.

Don't have to tell me. I live in Canada. Colder than that and I've worked with Chinese, Caribe people, Eastern Europeans, etc.

I would have to believe they had some sort of a problem or this would never had been brought to a vote. We're not hearing the whole story.

Oh yeah, there's more to this than has been presented. I think it's an attention grabber. Nothing wrong with that. If you want to promote your locale, great. Let's be honest though.

reply to post by intrepid


intrepid, Yes, Let's be honest though.

If Phoenix, Arizona had initiated bill 1070, 10 or 15 years ago and enforced the law, we'd be in better shape in this city as far as jobs go right now.
Yes, I believe that.
There was no proventive maintance, illegals were allowed to run wild and out of control. Harsh words?
I got a map to Canada I could copy and hand out at Home Depot. (kidding)

reply to post by guohua


Yes, I understand that this is an issue for the southern states. But Nebraska? And only a town in Nebraska?

Even if this one town is seemingly of little or no consequence and is truly just vying for the media spotlight, this issue is still very pertinent as it is very likely to also serve as a spark near the powder keg of an issue that immigration has become. Many other towns are apt to initiate similar measures if this one measure succeeds in setting precedent.

Originally posted by intrepid
reply to post by guohua

 

Yes, I understand that this is an issue for the southern states. But Nebraska? And only a town in Nebraska?

Ding, Ding, Ding,,,, Yes Folks we have a WINNER!

intrepid, It needed to start some where, a little 25,000 plus 5000 more or less town in Nebraska, That's as good as place as anywhere else in the state.
OK, I really think they perceived a problem starting in their community.
Possible with enrollment in their schools.

Just saying, I agree with the premise of headed the problem off at the pass.

Originally posted by Hefficide

Even if this one town is seemingly of little or no consequence and is truly just vying for the media spotlight, this issue is still very pertinent as it is very likely to also serve as a spark near the powder keg of an issue that immigration has become. Many other towns are apt to initiate similar measures if this one measure succeeds in setting precedent.

Hefficide, Thank You, Well said, much better than my reply.

For decades the meatpacking industry, in places like this town, turned from hiring Americans to even "sometimes going so far as to take recruitment buses straight to Mexico to find new employees" source

Unable to fight the corporation, American workers now instead pick fights with those at the receiving end of low wages, no benefits, and unsafe working conditions.

Actually, in this particular case, citizens are probably even doing the dirty work for their local plant Fremont Beef. Why should the company get rid of illegal workers, when the locals can do it for them?

And anybody in Fremont hate the effect of globalization on the American worker? Fremont Beef is a Japanese company. source

And think twice town locals if you think getting rid of illegal workers from south of the border will solve the problem. The company just might do as what has been done already...bus in Burmese from Texas. source

Unless Americans work together to fight the corporate takeover of their country, instead of listening to corporate political/media shills try to divide them or distract them, they'll just continue to tilt at windmills, or worse, cowardly attack the weak.

reply to post by desert


Great Links, Thank You.
Now that makes you think.

reply to post by guohua


You're welcome, guohua.

This deliberate attempt to use illegal workers as part of a national economic policy to keep wages low (along with less safe or unsafe working conditions, no benefits, and a general lowering of working conditions) is over 20 years long.

If every illegal worker were deported (no matter from what country), business would merely offer the jobs to American workers, at the same pay and conditions. That is the shameful state of the current economy.

What Arizona etal are doing is not addressing the root of the problem. While it certainly has brought needed attention to the situation, I see it more as a way for business to use citizen collective action to get rid of surplus labor. Illegal workers were tolerated in a good economy, but business does not need their illegal workers now.

If the same citizen collective action would turn on business and corporate lobbying (the inflow of money to influence politicians) and make demands, the same patriotic, God fearing Americans would be labeled unAmerican.

How many citizens in Alabama spoke out when businesses there were advertising in Spanish in Mexico for workers, or even knew that was happening? Now they will speak out, but, again, it will not address the root of the problem.

The old economy is not working for the American worker or for the nation, but neither is the new economy. When jobs were outsourced or insourced since the 1980's, those who lost their jobs went into the service or finance industry. And when the house of cards finance sector fell, the service sector could only implode. We cannot have a 21st century economy based on fast food or grooming humans or pets.

Much work in the Great Depression focused on great projects, greatly needed for the time and future of that time for the US. Work for this 21st century time and future must focus on energy needs, not just for the US but for the rest of the world. And not the old way of doing energy business, but a new way.

Sadly, this work is 30 years too late. And China and India understand the problem and are working on it, while Americans are too busy fighting amongst themselves, complete with name calling...liberal, fascist, socialist, nazi, communist. We are not behaving like grownups, but rather like the spoiled children we have become. We have played too long in the sandbox of oil, and are now realizing it for what it is, quicksand.

We have been a country, "To whom much is given is much required." We need to be world leaders in energy usage (for this time and this future), not only to save ourselves, but others, and ultimately the planet, over which we were called to be stewards.

I think the people are ready. Too bad politicians and their corporate handlers are not. Our fight should not be against governance but rather corporate control of our government, and hence, corporate control over our lives.

Originally posted by intrepid
Not to a dip but does this town REALLY have an II problem? It's Nebraska for christ sake. I looked for II numbers for Nebraska and couldn't find any. Maybe a town that wants to be on the map.

No offense meant to you, but you really have no clue as to what you are
saying. I live in Nebraska and the illegals are a tremendous problem all
over the state. They have drained our state of hundreds of millions over
the years. Where I live it is about 24% Hispanic and around 20% of them
are totally illegal. The local Hispanics that have lived here all of their lives,
and were born here, are up in arms about this mess just as much as the
rest of the locals.

Fremont just happens to be the first small city to do something about the
illegals. A lot of other towns and cities have plans on the books to follow
suit in the near future.

No, Fremont is not trying to "get on the map". They have always been on
the map. Nebraska is not some hick state that doesn't have the same
problems as Arizona and Texas and elsewhere. We are all tired of this
illegal activity. I own a rental and I won't rent to any of them. And I know
how to tell them from the locals, as I have been doing this for a long time.
No racial profiling is necessary. Just conversing with them is the first clue.

We have a ton of slaughter houses in the state, alongwith a lot of sugar
factories in the area, and this is a farming state where they come from
Mexico to work the fields.

Yes, Nebraska is knee deep in the same problems, and problems they are.

reply to post by endtimer

After reading every thing I could fine about this city.
It would seem, they were faced with what we here have gotten use to.
They were bombarded with the Mexican culture, language and not wanting to assimilate into their little town culture.

So they wished to put a stop to it, before the illegal problem got out of hand.
I can't blame them, I wish we had.

Neb. city votes to restrict illegal immigration

Kristin Ostrom, who helped organize opposition to the measure, said she was never convinced of that. Fremont's unemployment rate matches the Nebraska rate of 4.9 percent, and both remain well below the national rate of 9.7 percent.

"It's unfortunate that the majority of voters didn't understand that we really don't have an illegal immigration problem in Fremont," she said.

So, ... what's the big deal then?

Apparently, from what she is saying, there is no illegal immigrant problem in Fremont, so this new law/ordinance won't affect anybody!

But Fremont does have an immigrant population that is growing though, ...

The Hispanic population in Fremont, including both legal and illegal residents, surged from about 165 in 1990 to 1,085 in 2000, according to census expert David Drozd at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He said an estimated 2,060 Hispanics lived there last year.

This is a huge problem both in Fremont and in Austin, Minnesota, home of Hormel Foods makers of Spam. The illegal work force is wrecking both towns, driving wages and property values way down and crime rates way up. Legal citizens can't get jobs, the jobs are given to Illegal Aliens who the company knows will never stage a strike or ask for increased wages. Slave work forces at their finest!

Originally posted by Keyhole
Neb. city votes to restrict illegal immigration

Kristin Ostrom, who helped organize opposition to the measure, said she was never convinced of that. Fremont's unemployment rate matches the Nebraska rate of 4.9 percent, and both remain well below the national rate of 9.7 percent.

"It's unfortunate that the majority of voters didn't understand that we really don't have an illegal immigration problem in Fremont," she said.

So, ... what's the big deal then?

Apparently, from what she is saying, there is no illegal immigrant problem in Fremont, so this new law/ordinance won't affect anybody!

But Fremont does have an immigrant population that is growing though, ...

The Hispanic population in Fremont, including both legal and illegal residents, surged from about 165 in 1990 to 1,085 in 2000, according to census expert David Drozd at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He said an estimated 2,060 Hispanics lived there last year.

This Ostrom person is obviously going to say there is no problem. She
helped organize this opposition force for her own way of thinking.
She just needs to drive around the town a little and get out of her little
office she finds so high and mighty. Look at the trashed neighborhoods,
the depressed property value, the trash in the street and everywhere you
look. Signs everywhere in Spanish to accomodate all of the "Illegals".
No, there isn't a problem in her little country club area of town. She should
take a look around at the ghetto and she will quickly change her mind.
Have her go to the local jailhouse and she can see for herself who is
occupying the bunks. Go to the welfare office and see who is on the dole
for every kind of handout that exists while the locals have to actually
pay taxes and don't get any of the freebies. I am so sick of people
thinking this isn't going on. It has destroyed this country. And Nebraska
is actually a state.