Voters wrong — says ACLU
Posted on May 16, 2007
Excerpt:
Latino activists and civil liberties advocates asked a federal judge Tuesday to block a voter-approved ordinance that would prohibit landlords from renting apartments to most illegal immigrants in the Dallas suburb of Farmers Branch. The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund and the American Civil Liberites Union, which have already sued the city over the regulation, asked for the temporary restraining order in U.S. District Court. A group of merchants also suing Farmers Branch in federal court filed a separate request Tuesday to stop the ordinance’s enforcement, said activist Carlos Quintanilla. “It is unfortunate that the residents of Farmers Branch have chosen to implement a law which is not only bad policy, but is likely also unconstitutional,” said Lisa Graybill, legal director for the ACLU of Texas. “Now the issue will have to be resolved in federal court.”
The ACLU and MALDEF contend poor families could be thrown out of homes because of the ordinance. And, the groups say, families in which some people are undocumented and others are citizens or legal immigrants could be forced to either move or split up.
Matthew Boyle, an attorney representing Farmers Branch, said the request for the restraining order isn’t surprising and that the city is preparing a response. “I think they’re wasting their time. I think we have legal grounds … moral grounds,” councilman Ben Robinson said of the groups’ request.
Farmers Branch voters became the first in the nation Saturday to prohibit landlords from renting apartments to most illegal immigrants. The ban was approved by a vote of 68 percent to 32 percent, according to unofficial results…..
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im not sure where in the constitution it says that anyone has the right to a place to live… it most definately does not guarantee property ownership… and since when does the constitution of the united states apply to foreign nationals in the country breaking its laws?
Kinda curious how this is “likely” unconstitutional? I always thought that the Constitution delt with the legal residents of the United States of America. How would the ordinance target the poor, citizens, or legal immigrants, and force them to move out? If the lease is in the name of the legal immigrant, how would the landlord even know if other people living there were illegal? Personally I encourage and respect legal immigrants, it takes alot of effort to leave your home, go through the process, and start anew in a strange land. That is one of the greatest strength of our republic. Illegal immigration, however, is just that “ILLEGAL”. Being that they are not LEGAL residents of the country, I feel that the Constitution does not apply.
Apparently, dems and RINOs found a solution. If people vote wrongly, they can change the people. Soon we have 100 million new welfare recipients guaranteed to vote (early & often) for every tax hiking democratic party candidate.
This will be the end of this country as we know it. US will resemble Mexico or Zimbabve in 20 years.
I got my green card legally after years of misery. This amnesty makes me sick. At least we got rid of current republican party (which consist or morons) for the next 500 years.
If the amnesty laws are passed we will become a third world country. These illegals, if they become citizens, will be entitled to medicaid and other perks. I believe that if they become legal they will still get paid under the table. Why pay taxes when you do not have to? Right now Montgomery County, Maryland is attempting to use public funds to assist illegals in registering to vote. Gee I wonder if they will be registered Republicans?
Holy crap! Why is this an issue? Are you a citizen? No? Then I am sorry. We cannot help you until you are legal. This is such a crock. I cannot believe we are in this situation. And the people we should be angry with are the [edited] who think that these foreigners have rights to ANYTHING except pleasantries like “thank you for visiting our country” on their way HOME. The ACLU needs to change their letters to FCLU for Forigners Civil Liberties Union.
THE VOTE IS THE ONLY VOICE OF THE PEOPLE FOR GOVERNMENT
OF THE PEOPLE, AND BY THE PEOPLE. NEVER
GOVERNMENT BY THE ACLU FOR THE NONE CITIZEN .
IT IS TIME AND PAST TIME TO REMOVE ALL FREDERAL ACLU JUDGES
THAT IS A RUBBER STAMP FOR THE ACLU COMMUNIST LAWYERS.
This is the most important legislation of our lifetime. This will turn this country into 3rd world sh*thole and guarantees super high taxes, big goverment and liberal majority for the next 200 years. I don’t care about 2008 elections or Iraq anymore. Everything is lost if this amnesty bill passes.
I’m still hoping for a miracle. Maybe Romney or Fred Thompson speaks out against amnesty today or tomorrow and help defeating it.
Becoming Illegal (From a Maryland resident to his senator)
The Honorable Paul S. Sarbanes Senate Office Building 309 Hart, Washington DC, 20510
Dear Senator Sarbanes,
As a native Marylander and excellent customer of the Internal Revenue Service, I am writing to ask for your assistance. I have contacted the Department of Homeland Security in an effor t to determine the process for becoming an illegal alien and they referred me to you.
My primary reason for wishing to change my status from U.S. Citizen to illegal alien stems from the bill which was recently passed by the Senate and for which you voted. If my understanding of this bill’s provisions is accurate, as an illegal alien who has been in the United States for five years, all I need to do to become a citizen is to pay a $2,000 fine and income taxes for three of the last five years. I know a good deal when I see one and I am anxious to get the process started before everyone figures it out.
Simply put, those of us who have been here legally have had to pay taxes every year so I ‘m excited about the prospect of avoiding two years of taxes in return for paying a $2,000 fine. Is there any way that I can apply to be illegal retroactively? This would yield an excellent result for me and my family because we paid heavy taxes in 2004 and 2005.
Additionally, as an illegal alien I could begin using the local emergency room as my primary health care provider. Once I have stopped paying premiums for medical insurance, my accountant figures I could save almost $10,000 a year. Another benefit in gaining illegal status would be that my daughter would receive preferential treatment relative to her law school applications, as well as “in-state” tuition rates for many colleges throughout the United States for my son.
Lastly, I understand that illegal status would relieve me of the burden of renewing my driver’s license and making those
burdensome car insurance premiums. This is very important to me given that I still have college age children driving my car.
If you would provide me with an outline of the process to become illegal (retroactively if possible) and copies of the necessary forms, I would be most appreciative.
Thank you for your assistance.
Your Loyal Constituent,
Pete McGlaughlin
Get your Forms (NOW)!! Call your Internal Revenue Service 1-800-289-1040. Please pass this onto your friends so they can save on this great
Pete - that’s great. Here’s the crux of this issue, the aclu is a COMMUNIST ORGANIZATION, and they wish to draw exhorbitant salaries without having to even work at practicing law (namely, they want to be democrat politicians), and the best way to do that is to stack the voter rolls against real Americans. Sadly, as Big Dog has pointed out, we are nearing the point when the American people will be FORCED to actually fight and take back their country. I say we give the lefties California, mostly because I can do without Hollyweird, and it’s going to fall into the ocean anyway.
How does the ACLU get the authority to sue an American government (city) to protect foreign nationals if those foreign nationals had no (nata) rights to start with? They can not have the legal protection of the ACLU because they are persona non grata to the American judicial system. If I were a judge, I would chunk this one over the fence because the ACLU can’t defend foreign nationals that are in the country illegally.