Pa. City Defends Illegal Immigrant Rules (Hispanic groups and the ACLU sued)

[Omaha Steve]

http://apnews.excite.com/article/20070312/D8NQSCF00.html

Pa. City Defends Illegal Immigrant Rules
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Mar 12, 5:28 PM (ET)

By MICHAEL RUBINKAM

SCRANTON, Pa. (AP) - Leaders of a Pennsylvania town that cracked down on illegal immigrants went to court Monday to defend their controversial practices at the start of a trial to explore whether local governments may act on their own to curb illegal immigration.

Officials in Hazleton, south of Scranton, passed the city's Illegal Immigration Relief Act last summer, imposing fines on landlords who rent to illegal immigrants and denying business permits to companies that employ them. Another measure requires tenants to register with City Hall.

Hispanic groups and the ACLU sued, contending the measures are unconstitutional.


Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta, right, speaks to reporters outside the federal courthouse in Scranton, Monday, March 12, 2007. Hazelton's city leaders went to court to defend their controversial crackdown on illegal immigrants Monday as the first federal trial to explore whether local governments may act on their own to curb illegal immigration got under way. (AP Photo/Steve Klaver)

In opening statements, an ACLU attorney told a judge Monday that there is no evidence to back up the Hazleton mayor's claim that illegal immigrants are destroying the quality of life in his city.

FULL story at link.

[struggle4progress]

1. Barletta must be planning another run for Congress