Farmer's Branch Passes Restrictive Immigration Ordinances
The city council of Farmer's Branch, Texas has unanimously passed several ordinances making it extremely difficult, if not impossible, for immigrants to live and work in the city.
The measures include apartment renters providing proof of citizenship or residency and making English the city's official language. Additionally, the new measures allow police to participate in a federal program that would enable them to check the residency status of suspects in custody and initiate deportation proceedings in certain cases.
One exception to the ban on immigrants is for mixed-status families. They may enter into a lease or rental arrangement if the family is already a tenant, the head of household or spouse has eligible immigration status, and the family includes only the head of household and spouse and their parents or minor children.
Apartment complex owners could be fined up to $500 a day for violating the law.
U.S. citizens will now have to provide a signed declaration of citizenship or U.S. nationality, confirmed by a U.S. passport or "other appropriate documentation in a form designated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement as acceptable evidence of citizenship status."
Non-citizens who want to rent an apartment in the city will have to provide:
• A signed declaration of eligible immigration status,
• One form from a list of documents designated by ICE as acceptable evidence of immigration status, and
• A signed verification consent form.
Unfortunately, as Congress drags its feet on passing any kind of immigration reform law, more and more municipalities are expected to "take the law into their own had" and pass city ordinances that probably won't pass constitutional tests, but will cause untold agony for residents and cost taxpayers thousands of dollars to try to enforce in court.
For more information about immigration news, immigration laws, immigration policies, proposed immigration laws, border enforcement, green cards, citizenship, employment visas, family visas, naturalization, and other immigration subjects, please visit Immigration Law Answers and Immigration Law Answers Blog.