West Hazleton adopts revised illegal immigration law

J.J. Jackson* | November 13, 2006

As anticipated, West Hazleton council adopted a revised version of the Illegal Immigration Relief Act (IIRA) Thursday night.

Council adopted the original IIRA in August and so it was already borough law.

The new version is the same as Hazleton’s revised version that the city adopted in September. The changes in Hazleton’s ordinance were designed to make it more easily defensible in court. The penalties were altered somewhat; the term “harboring illegals,” taken from federal immigration law, was inserted; and the official English clause was pulled out and turned into a separate ordinance.

The law adopted by West Hazleton levies fines in the amount of $1,000 for a landlord who rents or leases to an illegal immigrant or an employer that hires an illegal immigrant, though it does not include a portion stating English as the official language of the borough. Council didn’t approve a separate ordinance focusing on English as the official borough language either and apparently doesn’t plan to.

Hazleton resident Antonio Rodriguez urged council to consider adopting an English-only ordinance. Rodriguez said he has lived in Hazleton for about 40 years and said he takes pride in being an American citizen and that all citizens should know how to use English.

However, Rodriguez seemed pleased with council’s action of adopting the revised IIRA, saying that the main idea of the ordinance was to get rid of those who have committed crimes.

“This is a good thing you are doing,” Rodriguez said.

The Voice

Whatever It Takes: Illegal Immigration, Border Security and the War on Terror

(Book)

Authors:J. D. Hayworth
Manufacturer:Regnery Publishing, Inc.
Released:25 January, 2006

Minutemen: The Battle to Secure America’s Borders

(Book)

Authors:Jim Gilchrist, Jerome R. Corsi, Congressman Tom Tancredo
Manufacturer:World Ahead Publishing
Released:25 July, 2006

Contributor's website: http://www.libertyreborn.com

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