Escondido, CA: Law stops renting to illegal immigrants

Jill1228 · #1 10-19-2006, 11:37 AM

Ya think this is gonna be enforced? Ain't gonna happen
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061019/...grants_housing

City leaders have approved an ordinance prohibiting landlords from renting to illegal immigrants, the latest in one of many efforts by local governments across the country to crack down on undocumented workers.

More than 100 police officers and sheriff's deputies in riot gear were on hand for the 3-2 vote Wednesday. After the measure was approved, one person ran outside the council chamber and yelled, "The USA wins!" prompting opponents and supporters gathered on the lawn to shout at each other for 30 minutes. Police said no arrests were made.

The American Civil Liberties Union has indicated it will go to court to block implementation of the ordinance, set to take effect Nov. 18.

Councilman Sam Abed, who supported the measure, said it will improve the city's image and reputation, "and certainly our quality of life."

Mayor Lori Holt Pfeiler and Councilman Ron Newman, the two no votes, said the ordinance would create new problems for Escondido, a city 30 miles northwest of San Diego. Hispanics make up 42 percent of Escondido's 142,000 residents.

Pfeiler said everyone agrees illegal immigration is a problem, but the ordinance "is going to have neighbor against neighbor."

Under the law, landlords will be required to submit documentation of their tenants' immigration status to the city, which will then submit the information to the federal government for verification.

If tenants are found to be illegal immigrants, landlords would be given 10 days to evict them or face suspension of their business license. Repeat offenders could face misdemeanor charges and fines.

Recent national scrutiny of immigration policy has led to similar proposals around the nation.

Earlier this year in Pennsylvania, the city of Hazleton passed legislation that would punish businesses that employ illegal immigrants and landlords who rent to them. The community of Riverhead on New York's Long Island passed a similar law in September.

In San Bernardino, Calif., an attempt to present such a measure to voters was dismissed by the courts in June. And in Florida this summer, ordinances were voted down by city councils in Avon Park and Palm Bay.

AlexMack · #2 10-19-2006, 11:47 AM

What amuses me is that the ACLU is getting involved. It's so deliciously ironic, them standing up for civil liberties for illegal immigrants.
Just so you know, my personal stance on the issue is that they should all get green cards. Not citizenships, but green cards. After that they need to watch the borders closely.
Throwing them all out helps absolutely no one.

Jimmy Choo · #3 10-19-2006, 12:12 PM

Seriously, isn't there something more productive that the town could have its police doing with their time? Checking to see if they have the right papers is insane. What's next?

DSTCHAOS · #4 10-19-2006, 12:13 PM

GOOD!!!

This might not be that difficult to enforce. The level of identifiability for illegal immigrants is high in that area, so they can enforce this just as they would enforce penalties against employers who employ illegals.

SoCalGirl · #5 10-19-2006, 12:41 PM

I'm surprised this went through. I was so sure nothing would get passed that I barely listened to anything on the news about this. From the above article I'm going to hazard a guess that "landlords will be required to submit documentation of their tenants' immigration status" would apply only to tenants that admit to not being US citizens. Otherwise, every single renter would have to submit something to their landlord. Which means that the city and the federal government would have to confirm every single renter in the city. I've always been under the impression that Escondido has a high percentage of renters. It'd be a waste of resources both at the city but also the federal level.

Also, considering the city is largely Hispanic and the proximity to the border, it be a hard sale to claim this isn't targeting Hispanics. Immigration policies on a National level I'm almost always willing to believe are not targeting Hispanics, but this is just too glaring to ignore.

SoCalGirl · #6 10-19-2006, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

This might not be that difficult to enforce. The level of identifiability for illegal immigrants is high in that area, so they can enforce this just as they would enforce penalties against employers who employ illegals.

I've been up all night, so maybe that's why, but I'm not understanding what you mean. Can you expand on that?

AlphaFrog · #7 10-19-2006, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoCalGirl

Immigration policies on a National level I'm almost always willing to believe are not targeting Hispanics

Dang, where do I get a pair of THOSE rose-colored glasses??

SoCalGirl · #8 10-19-2006, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

Dang, where do I get a pair of THOSE rose-colored glasses??

Yes, I realize it can be naive. It's just that I realize there's lots of illegals from plenty of other ethnicities. Plus, because of where I live, I don't so much think of Hispanics as immigrants (illegal or otherwise) as I think of them as just being a part of the community. :shrug: Honestly, when I hear "immigrant" I think Hispanics last. For some reason I think of European immigrants first!

Kevin · #9 10-19-2006, 01:15 PM

I really have no problem with this.

tunatartare · #10 10-19-2006, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

Dang, where do I get a pair of THOSE rose-colored glasses??

There are some parts of the country where the illegal immigrants aren't Hispanic.

AlphaFrog · #11 10-19-2006, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KLPDaisy

There are some parts of the country where the illegal immigrants aren't Hispanic.

I realize that, but in working with my husband's immigration papers lately, it's hard to NOT see the National policy that IS directed at Hispanics.

Kevin · #12 10-19-2006, 01:41 PM

Alpha, could it possibly be that national policy against illegal immigration is targetted at hispanics principally because the vast majority of illegals are hispanic?

tunatartare · #13 10-19-2006, 01:41 PM

Personally, I think the law is a great idea.

Jill1228 · #14 10-19-2006, 01:53 PM

Ditto! i feel ya about working on the husband's immigration papers

(except mine is from further North)

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

I realize that, but in working with my husband's immigration papers lately, it's hard to NOT see the National policy that IS directed at Hispanics.

DSTCHAOS · #15 10-19-2006, 02:18 PM

Did you 2 marry illegal immigrants?