Civil rights groups sue over rent law

[Psycho4Bud]

DALLAS - Two civil rights groups filed a lawsuit Tuesday challenging a new law in a Dallas suburb that outlaws renting apartments to illegal immigrants, alleging the ordinance violates federal law and forces landlords to act as immigration officers.

The American Civil Liberties Union and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund filed the suit on behalf of residents and landlords in Farmers Branch, just north of Dallas. It is the third lawsuit brought against the city since the ordinance passed in November.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061226/ap_on_re_us/immigration_texas

They want rights?? How about the right to being deported?:D

Have a good one!:jointsmile:

[Zimzum]

"The American Civil Liberties Union and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund filed the suit on behalf of residents and landlords in Farmers Branch, just north of Dallas. It is the third lawsuit brought against the city since the ordinance passed in November."

"The lawsuit claims the measure, scheduled to take effect Jan. 12, is so poorly drafted that it excludes even legal immigrants from renting."

So the law can hinder legal residents from renting. Why would we deport legal residents?

[medicinal]

The key word is illegal! I think Illegal means-Not-legal, so how can they complain if they're not legal. Why don't they go back to their country and Change it instead of coming to ours and changing our laws. Illegal is still illegal, For most things illegal, If you're caught you go to jail, why aren't these illegals going to jail instead of getting lawyers to help them with their rental agreements? I have emphathy for them, there are just too many people that want to come to this country and work to feel sorry for all. It is a plain fact that the illegals have driven down the wages, most visably in the construction trade. Construction wages are now less than 50% of what they were in the '70's (Housing construction)! Example: 15 years ago those meatpackers were making 19.00 an hr., carpenters were making 21.50 an hr., all below 10.00 now! the list goes on, plumbers, bricklayers, concrete finishers, electricians Etc>>>

[Zimzum]

But this suit wasn't just brought about by illegals and there lawyers. The land owners too have stepped in on it. You show me a union plumber , electrician, carpenter who makes $10 or less an hour and ill show you my flying car. Master electricians in Boston area make 33$/hr +

[medicinal]

No union workers, thank God, But the demise of all non-union construction workers in the housing industry. I used to work in that Industry in California, so I know of what I speak. I also believe this puts pressure on the unions, as they can't compete for these jobs! Now tell me this. Why have the prices of houses gone from 45,000-300,000+ in the same time span when the cost of labor is 50%, do I smell Greed by the homebuilders here?? I realize the vacant property to build on has gone up, but not that much! Stay tuned, If the influx of illegals continues at the rate it has in the past, there will be no jobs immune to deflation. If a guy comes to your employer and says "I'll work twice as hard for 1/2 as much", what do you think will happen to your job? And he'll bring his 45 cousins to help him. This invasion has to be stopped if we want to survive as a 1st world country. Let me assure you these people are smart and capable, and can adapt to most any job! Me, I'm retired with all I need, so it won't affect me, but if you need your job, you might want to pay attention to the situation BTW, I don't know about Boston, but here in the southwest that is the situation!

[Hamlet]

Unfortunately, this issue is cloaked as a racial issue, when in reality it's a greed and exploitation issue. Mexicans aren't captives. They have a country. They need to make it into something. "Mexican" isn't a race--it's a Nationality.

If you are a legal immigrant-welcome to the United States! But illegal immigration has to be controled.

[midlifecrisis]

"Immigration enforcement must be left to the federal government, not each local municipality," said Lisa Graybill, legal director of the ACLU of Texas. "Otherwise Texas will end up with a patchwork system that is impractical and unenforceable."
:jointsmile:
HMMMM....so local law enforcement should not be involed in helping to enforce federal laws......ok sounds good

Let's see....
kidnapping...federal offense
armed bank robbery...federal offense
transporting liquor across state lines...federal offense
Possession of marijuana...federal offense

HMMMM, donut shops would be a busy, now wouldn't they!

That statement by the ACLU is such bullshit I just acussed my wife of ripping one!
:smokin:

[medicinal]

[quote=Zimzum]But this suit wasn't just brought about by illegals and there lawyers. The land owners too have stepped in on it! Why yes I can imagine they would as they would lose their renters, and probably no-one else would put up with the conditions the illegals have to endure, cockroach infestations, leaky roofs, holes in the walls, etc! So I'm sure the landlords would be upset, Hell they might have to actually spend some money and fix their property to get renters!

[Zimzum]

No union workers, thank God, But the demise of all non-union construction workers in the housing industry.

I'm sorry but if it ain't union then its a SCAB and gets what it deserves. Non union construction hurts the industry just as much as illegals. I've worked on sites were we have did a walk out due to non union workers also working on same site. And Ill gladly turn away a repair man at my house if he can not show me a union card.


Why yes I can imagine they would as they would lose their renters, and probably no-one else would put up with the conditions the illegals have to endure, cockroach infestations, leaky roofs, holes in the walls, etc! So I'm sure the landlords would be upset, Hell they might have to actually spend some money and fix their property to get renters!

Thats a pretty narrow minded assumption on there living conditions.

[Markass]

complaining that we passed a law that makes it illegal for the illegal immigrants to stay in apartments..lol

[Psycho4Bud]

"The lawsuit claims the measure, scheduled to take effect Jan. 12, is so poorly drafted that it excludes even legal immigrants from renting."


Making someone show proof of citizenship is the problem.....or so they state. Got a drivers licence?, birth certificate, S.S. number? MANY ways of showing proof unless someones trying to AVOID something.

Have a good one!:jointsmile:

[PigSnout]

I'm sorry but if it ain't union then its a SCAB and gets what it deserves. Non union construction hurts the industry just as much as illegals. I've worked on sites were we have did a walk out due to non union workers also working on same site. And Ill gladly turn away a repair man at my house if he can not show me a union card.

Thats a pretty narrow minded assumption on there living conditions.

Do you actually think the illegals are living in nice conditions considering the money they make? Doesn't take a genius to figure it out.

Talk about a narrow minded statement "Non union construction hurts the industry just as much as illegals."
That's a laugh. Unions have been gouging the public for years with their overpaid workers. More power to them if they can get it, I personally wouldn't hire them.

Illegals have been driving down wages. The people who benefit are the rich business owners. All of a sudden these businesses can't make it? The same story, the rich get richer, the working stiff takes it on the chin.
The median income dropped about 10 percent in Dallas last year, just over $4000 a year. Foreclosures jumped 300 percent.
As long as there is complacency against these criminals the economy will continue to suffer.

[Zimzum]

Honestly I see illegal immigrants as a necessary evil of this country. If you eliminate them and at least replace them with people who make minimum wage, that cost gets pasted onto the consumer in the end. Which will increase the cost of living for the rest of us. Or worse if they decide to close down shop and open up in a cheaper labor market like china. We again lose out at least on the tax revenue of the business. I don't know where all your from but in Boston one needs to make at least $22.50 an hour to cover the cost of living in or around the city. Yet my aunt in upstate NY rents out an entire house for $500 a month, heat included. I asked her why she charges so little and she said "theres barely any jobs around here since IBM did lay offs." Until our government demands minimum wage comparable to the cost of living most Americans wont want to scrub toilets for $6/hr.

[medicinal]

but in Boston one needs to make at least $22.50 an hour to cover the cost of living in or around the city. Yet my aunt in upstate NY rents out an entire house for $500 a month, heat included. Just think, you could move into your aunts house and work for minimum wage.. In the wild-wild west, Housing varies greatly, from 200.00 a mo. shitholes to 5,000.00+ a mo. mansions. Also the wages vary from 5.50 an hr.to-infinity for CEOs, so there's a wide variety of housing and jobs. I never worked for minimum wage as I was a citizen and had skills. The question is not the union issue per-se, but the fact they are Illegal, you know, breaking the law by even being here, and then they want to bitch and demand citizenship. Bullshit! Go back to where you came from and fix your broken country. We had to fix ours and since it's broken again I believe we Must fix it once more, and a large part of the fix is removing Illegals!

[PigSnout]

Until our government demands minimum wage comparable to the cost of living most Americans wont want to scrub toilets for $6/hr.
Americans wont take that type of work for those kinds of wages. If the illegals weren't here that $6 an hour job pays more. Why should businesses pay the going rate, with no benefits I might add, when they can hire low wage illegals without fearing retribution. A $2 an hour paycut costs a worker $4000 a year.

Why all of a sudden are there jobs to do but Americans wont take them? Unemployment is low. So how can this be?
Back in the day you had two choices:
The choices were pay $40 to get the lawn cut or do it yourself. For alot of us it's a no brainer, do it yourself.
Now the choices are do it yourself, pay $40 to an American, or $25 to an illegal.
It starts with us, the legal Americans. Make a stand. (While you're at it get off your lazy fat ass and cut the lawn yourself)

[medicinal]

The only way to stop the insanity is to close the border first (a no Brainer I'd say), Then start with some stiff employer sanctions, and deportation of undocumented workers. If there were no undocumented workers to do those jobs, the employers would have to pay more as they should. Maybe then the CEOs wouldn't be getting multi-million dollar salaries and bonuses, but a more acceptable 6 figure salary, for no-one deserves those ridiculous amounts! The only thing worse than a CEO is A Wannabee

[PigSnout]

The only way to stop the insanity is to close the border first (a no Brainer I'd say), Then start with some stiff employer sanctions, and deportation of undocumented workers. If there were no undocumented workers to do those jobs, the employers would have to pay more as they should. Maybe then the CEOs wouldn't be getting multi-million dollar salaries and bonuses, but a more acceptable 6 figure salary, for no-one deserves those ridiculous amounts! The only thing worse than a CEO is A Wannabee

Agree 100 percent