Hazleton's illegal immigration law shot down

[normanvin]

Hazleton's illegal immigration law, which has drawn national attention, has been struck down by a federal judge in Scranton.

In the ruling issued Thursday afternoon, Judge James Munley declared the Hazleton's Illegal Immigration Relief Act unconstitutional on grounds that the federal government has authority over immigration issues.

i don't get this. the feds are dragging thier feet in doing something. and it is against the law for hazelton to do something.

can hazleton sue the feds to do something?


i guess that something that is illeagal is not against the law.

[dmg1969]

It's the same thing as the Minute Men on the border. The government refuses to do the job right, yet won't let someone who wants to help, help. What a crock of shit.

[rev214]

i'm hoping that mayor Barletta and the city of hazleton will appeal this ruling...

Hazleton’s Republican mayor pushed for the strict laws last summer after two illegal immigrants were charged in a fatal shooting. Mayor Lou Barletta argued that illegal immigrants brought drugs, crime and gangs to the city of more than 30,000, overwhelming police and schools.

Immigrant groups sued, saying the laws usurp the federal government’s exclusive power to regulate immigration, deprive residents of their constitutional rights to equal protection, and violate state and federal housing law.

In a 206-page opinion, Munley said the act was pre-empted by federal law and would violate due process rights.

“Whatever frustrations … the city of Hazleton may feel about the current state of federal immigration enforcement, the nature of the political system in the United States prohibits the city from enacting ordinances that disrupt a carefully drawn federal statutory scheme,” Munley wrote.

“Even if federal law did not conflict with Hazleton’s measures, the city could not enact an ordinance that violates rights the Constitution guarantees to every person in the United States, whether legal resident or not,” he added.

[theshadow]

Can't say what I really want to say, as it will probably come across as a threat. I'll just say that the government is NOT representing the will of the people, and the judge is NOT applying the law, and both should be removed and reinstated by proper representation (in a legal manner).

[KeithPA]

This isn't a surprise. The mayor even said he knew they would lose, as the judge was against them the whole way. Just look at his statement that rev highlighted.

[reels18]

I have had it with these pimps and whores in government.

The terrorists have rights, the illegals have rights, but the people that are footing all the bills continue to be pissed on by these clowns running our courtrooms. If we all stop paying taxes, maybe we could get some rights also.

Maybe we could change some of these judges minds by using a few of them as roadside decorations.

[NineseveN]

I'd love to see what the judge based his ruling on, as, according to everything I've read at least, the states are the only entities that have power to control non-citizen immigrants, the FEDs have standing over naturalization, not the same thing.

I disagreed with Hazleton's actions for other reasons, though, and I would tend to agree with the thought that "the city could not enact an ordinance that violates rights the Constitution guarantees to every person in the United States, whether legal resident or not", though again, I'd like to see his ruling.

[Steve in PA]

Since when does someone who is in this country ILLEGALLY have rights??

[rev214]

the ruling, in pdf format...all 206 pages of it:

http://www.wbcitizensvoice.com/pdfs/...ondecision.pdf

[NineseveN]

Originally Posted by Steve in PA

Since when does someone who is in this country ILLEGALLY have rights??

Since the rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness were endowed not by a government, state or a law, but by the creator of said being. The constitution makes no mention of such rights applying only to citizens.

Having said that, I'd like to know exactly which rights of the illegal immigrants he felt were being violated. The rights of the citizens not to be held liable for what is effectively a state law enforcement or government role, that I can probably understand.