Hazleton Trial Ends

The trial over the immigration-related local ordinance passed in Hazleton, PA ended today.  As the AP notes today:

Hazleton’s IllegalImmigration Relief Act, which the city council revised several timesfor legal reasons, would impose fines on landlords who rent to illegalimmigrants and deny business permits to companies that give them jobs.A companion ordinance would require tenants to register with City Halland pay for a rental permit.

The act has been emulated by townsaround the nation that believe the federal government hasn’t doneenough to stop illegal immigration. Enforcement of the Hazletonrestrictions was barred pending the trial, the first in the nation toexamine local efforts to curb illegal immigration.

The AP report, which also summarizes some of the closing remarks made by counsel for the ACLU the organization that filed the lawsuit), is linked here.

-jmc