Pennsylvania Town Acts Again

The Hazelton City Council gave tentative approval Friday to an overhaul of ananti-undocumented immigration law considered to be one of the nation’stoughest, hoping to put the measure on sounder legal footing.

Like the version it will replace if granted final approval Tuesday,the new ordinance punishes businesses that employ illegal immigrantsand landlords who rent to them.

The revisions, however, remove much of the burden that had beenplaced on businesses. They soften penalties, give landlords andbusinesses time to correct violations and leaving it to city officialsto verify workers’ immigration status with the federal government.

Since the council adopted the original law in July, manymunicipalities around the nation have approved or considered similarmeasures.

Last week, the city of 31,000 residents agreed not to enforce theoriginal law after the American Civil Liberties Union and Hispanicgroups sued in federal court to overturn it. In return, the plaintiffsagreed not to seek an injunction against the city. Click here.

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