Towns Rethink Laws Against Illegal Immigrants - NY Times

[groovedaddy]

Towns Rethink Laws Against Illegal Immigrants
By KEN BELSON and JILL P. CAPUZZO
Published: September 26, 2007 - NY Times

RIVERSIDE, N.J., Sept. 25 — A little more than a year ago, the Township Committee in this faded factory town became the first municipality in New Jersey to enact legislation penalizing anyone who employed or rented to an illegal immigrant.

Within months, hundreds, if not thousands, of recent immigrants from Brazil and other Latin American countries had fled. The noise, crowding and traffic that had accompanied their arrival over the past decade abated.

The law had worked. Perhaps, some said, too well.

With the departure of so many people, the local economy suffered. Hair salons, restaurants and corner shops that catered to the immigrants saw business plummet; several closed. Once-boarded-up storefronts downtown were boarded up again.

http://tinyurl.com/2m6y8q

[Sequoia]

1. As Nelson would say: HA HA

You poor anit-immigration saps, you just shot yourselves in the foot.

[redqueen]

2. Couldn't have happened to a nicer bunch. n/t

[rodeodance]

3. So last week, the town rescinded the ordinance, joining a small but growing

Meanwhile, the town was hit with two lawsuits challenging the law. Legal bills began to pile up, straining the town’s already tight budget. Suddenly, many people — including some who originally favored the law — started having second thoughts.

So last week, the town rescinded the ordinance, joining a small but growing list of municipalities nationwide that have begun rethinking such laws as their legal and economic consequences have become clearer.

“I don’t think people knew there would be such an economic burden,” said Mayor George Conard, who voted for the original ordinance. “A lot of people did not look three years out.”

[fasttense]

4. Well, duh

Of course businesses that cater to illegals will suffer. Did they think all the commerce based on illegals would continue? But business everywhere in the US is suffering. It is not necessarily due to the lack of illegal employees. It just happens more quickly when you are use to catering to an illegal population and they suddenly disappear.

It's like complaining because you no longer have customers for forged documents.

[cheapdate]

5. No, it's not like complaining becaus you no longer have customers for forged documents (IMHO)

Riverside, N.J. Mayor George Conard was talking about the lost revenue from legitimate businesses, like hair salons, restaurants, and grocery stores.

He wasn't talking about his town's loss of illegitimate businesses, like forged document shops.

[redqueen]

7. Businesses that cater to illegals?

What kinds of businesses are those, pray tell?

[groovedaddy]

6. Another aspect to this is law enforcement

We did a forum in our city several years ago and had the official spokesperson for the local police department. Someone brought up illegal immigration and asked why the city didn't enforce immigration laws. He answered that the laws are a federal matter and the locals aren't required to enforce federal law. He said, however, that the subject had been brought up by the federal government, requesting the support of local police in enforcing federal immigration law. The officer said that they did not want to get into dealing with immigration matters as it would suck up a huge amount of manpower and resources.