A Word From Fremont, Nebraska: “The Power of Fear”
Kristin Anderson Ostrom, JD, of “One Fremont One Future” e-mailed ImmigrationProf after reading the post Hazleton and Beyond: Why Communities Try to Restrict Immigration:
After reading Kevin O’Neil’s analysis of local immigration enforcement laws in “Hazleton and Beyond: Why Communities Try to Restrict Immigration,” posted on November 4, 2010, I wanted to briefly comment on Fremont, Nebraska’s experience which seems to run counter.
Fremont, Nebraska passed an immigration enforcement law in June 2010 specifically modeled on the law in Hazleton, Pennsylvania and written by the same attorney, Kris Kobach. It reflects Hazleton’s “aggressive” proposal.
Fremont Ordinance No. 5165 bans the renting to, harboring and employing of “illegal aliens” within the city limits of Fremont, Nebraska. (Interestingly, the Fremont immigration enforcement law so incorporated the Hazleton language that it fines businesses for noncompliance by taking away a nonexistent business license.)
The Fremont law passed on a ballot initiative (57%) after a 2 year debate including the law’s constitutionality and estimates of $1 million tax increase annually (2-5 years) to pay for expected litigation. Immediately, the law’s constitutionality was challenged in federal court by the ACLU and MALDEF.
The immigration law was most probably not Fremont’s idea. But it found fertile ground in a small town experiencing some unease with its growing Hispanic community during an economically difficult time. (However, Fremont’s and Nebraska’s unemployment rate has held steady at around 4.6%) Fremont’s immigration enforcement law was written and shepherded by out of state attorney, Kris Kobach, author of a number of such local laws and Senior Counsel to the Federation for American Immigration Reform’s legal arm. But, it was not until the Hazleton-like proposal was introduced in Fremont, Nebraska (spring 2008) that Fremont began to discuss “illegal immigration” as a problem.
Demographically a very stable community, Fremont’s been populated primarily by descendants of European immigrants since 1856 (99% White from 1856 until 1990). By 2008, some in Fremont were becoming uneasy with the growth in Fremont’s Hispanic population which grew from 1% in 1990 to almost 8% in 2008 (Census, American Community Survey 2008). This unease was fanned into fear with phrases like, “they’re taking over” and “invasion” which were repeated again and again by a handful of local proponents quietly supported by FAIR. (See Accountability and Disclosure reports 2010)
In Fremont, “Hispanic” became “illegal” and were blamed for disease, increased crime, increased welfare, education and health costs without any specific evidence. The fear that the invading Hispanics – “breaking the law” and “costing Fremont” – led this small mid-west town to knowingly vote “yes” to a tax increase in this economic climate – in order to stop the invasion.
The controversy continues both in Fremont and at the state level as Fremont’s state legislator, with the support of the Governor, is expected to introduce an Arizona/Fremont-like law in the Nebraska Unicameral in January 2011 – written by FAIR’s Mr. Kobach. Although like Fremont, Nebraska’s “illegal” immigrant population is also estimated to be 2% of the population.
It’s been an incredible 2+ years living in a community, leading the opposition (immigrants/natives; Hispanics/Anglos) and witnessing the power of fear.