British Expatriate Network

.J. immigration law sparks protest


Dont know who wrote this but is this place in NJ or philladelphia ?

bad attitude when thay say * we will own it * how about some integration and becomming part of the comunity might get some understanding and support then another preacher interfering in politics so much for the seperation .

READ FULL ARTICULE HERE

By DAVE PORTER, Associated Press Writer Sun Aug 20, 558 PM ET

RIVERSIDE, N.J. - Hundreds of protesters and counter-protesters assembled in this small Philadelphia suburb Sunday in response to the community's new attempt to crack down on illegal immigration.


Protesters argued against a township ordinance adopted last month that bans the hiring and housing of people who cannot verify they are legal residents. A larger group massed across the street to support the new law.

People on both sides of the street waved American flags.

The protest organizer vowed to invite new immigrants to Riverside if people are forced to leave.

"For every immigrant who feels afraid and leaves Riverside, we are going to find an immigrant to volunteer to come live in Riverside," the Rev. Miguel Rivera told the Courier-Post of Cherry Hill for Sunday editions. "Riverside is going to be ours."

Rivera, president of the National Coalition of Latino Clergy and Christian Leaders, is leading the opposition to the Illegal Immigration Relief Act in this community of about 8,000 people.

The ordinance punishes landlords and employers who house or hire illegal immigrants. Local officials estimate that as many as 3,500 illegal immigrants, many from Brazil, live in the town.

The ordinance is similar to one passed in July in Hazleton, Pa., and comes as other towns across the nation are considering such measures.

Both the Riverside and Hazleton ordinances have been challenged in federal court.

I suspect that these are unconstitutional.
Last year, Police chief's in two NH towns to it upon themselves to start arresting foreign nationals (always hispanics) who could not produce evidence that they were legally in the country and charging them with 'trespass' (i.e. trespassing in the United States and in NH).
The courts threw out all charges as immigration is an issue reserved to the Federal Govt. and thus the town police lacked any jurisdiction.
Town ordinances are likely to meet the same fate.

That makes sense Rob - otherwise, it's only a few short steps away from lynching mobs.

I think a place just outside Dallas is going to try something like this. Can see it all getting abit out of hand really.

Oviously it has to be fed law with immigration ,cant have one set of rules in one state and a differant one in another .

Federal law already makes it illegal to hire undocumented workers, they just don't bother to enforce it. If the Feds don't enforce it, and the cities and towns are not allowed to, who is going to pay for the extra police and social services?

I suspect that that costs of enforcing the law would outstrip the burdens purportedly caused by the illegal immigrants.
Also, some major industries (not to mention political donors) benefit from the current situation, hence the Bush proposals.

I don't doubt that there are burdens in some places, and probably others get a net benefit.
It is a given that this administration looks the other way because it's prime donors tell them to.

The costs of enforcing the law need not be high, some hefty fines for a few companies and some prison time for the managers who do the actual hiring, would dry up the demand and the problem would be radically reduced.