Civil rights groups sue over rent law

[Sydnie]

DALLAS - Two civil rights groups filed a lawsuit Tuesday challenging a new law in a Dallas suburb that outlaws renting apartments to illegal immigrants, alleging the ordinance violates federal law and forces landlords to act as immigration officers.

The American Civil Liberties Union and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund filed the suit on behalf of residents and landlords in Farmers Branch, just north of Dallas. It is the third lawsuit brought against the city since the ordinance passed in November.

The lawsuit claims the measure, scheduled to take effect Jan. 12, is so poorly drafted that it excludes even legal immigrants from renting.

"Immigration enforcement must be left to the federal government, not each local municipality," said Lisa Graybill, legal director of the ACLU of Texas. "Otherwise Texas will end up with a patchwork system that is impractical and unenforceable."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061226/ap_on_re_us/immigration_texas

[CurtEastPoint]

1. The Pukes in Cherokee Co. (GA) just passed the same law.

No matter where it's passed, it's going to be challenged. Immigration (legal or illegal) is a federal thing, not up to the stupid counties, etc. Another botched opportunity by the * administration.

OH! And the irony of a county named Cherokee trying to keep out 'foreigners' was totally lost on the county commission, of course.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. I wonder if some of my cousins

who happen to have an Hispanic surname would be denied housing. If I found out about it, I'd send the landlord a copy of our genealogy, which goes back to 1620, and ask him when HIS ancestors immegrated!

[Sapere aude]

3. Just charge those illegals a large fine for existing.

You know if we can duplicate the same conditions the illegals face in Mexico then they wouldn't come here and we wouldn't have to think about them anymore. You know, like no home, no job, no food, no health care, no education and all.

[DBoon]

4. If we made the USA just like Mexico

then all immigration from Mexico would stop.

- Eliminate civil liberties Check

- Government run by corrupt cronies. Check

- An economy that benefits only a small wealthy minority. Check

Looks like we are getting there.