Day By Day© by Chris Muir.

August 22, 2006

Hazleton, PA: Flushing Out Illegals

The Washington Post has an article on the town of Hazelton, Pennsylvania, which has taken the bold step of passing legislation that would make it very difficult for illegal aliens to live and work there. The new law will take effect next month.

Last month, in a raucous meeting, the mayor and City Council passed the Illegal Immigration Relief Act. ([Mayor] Barletta wore a bulletproof vest because, he says, Hazleton is menaced by a surge in crime committed by illegal immigrants.) The act imposes a $1,000-per-day fine on any landlord who rents to an illegal immigrant, and it revokes for five years the business license of any employer who hires one.

The act also declares English to be the city's official language. Employees are forbidden to translate documents into another language without official authorization.

The Post does a somewhat decent job at providing a balanced story. We hear stories from those who do and do not support the legislation. Many who are quoted say it has nothing to do with where the illegals are from, but the fact that they are illegal. Gang activity is also discussed as being a factor.

He [Barletta] says his epiphany came in May, when several illegal immigrants walked up to a local man at 11 o'clock one night and shot him in the forehead. One suspect had four false identity papers. "It took us nine hours of overtime just to run down who he was," Barletta said.

"I lay in bed and thought: I've lost my city," he recalls. "I love the new legal immigrants; they want their kids to be safe just like I do. I had to declare war on the illegals."

Barletta is also quoted as saying "'illegal' and 'legal' do not have a race."

According to the article, other towns in the general area are passing ordinances like this, and I say it's high time. Illegals will continue to come if they know they will have a job and a place to stay. Cracking down on those who provide employment and a home to illegals is one way to stem the tide.

But more action needs to be taken. Our government needs to get tougher on keeping our borders secure. As long as they can get away with it, wannabe immigrants will continue to avoid the legal process and sneak in any way they can. And, if workers can come in illegally, so can terrorists.

It's not racism. It's taking back control of the laws of the land. Other countries enforce their immigration laws. It's time that we do the same.

Raising the usual complaints about racism

**This was a production of the Coalition Against Illegal Immigration (CAII). If you would like to participate, go to the above link to learn more. Afterward, e-mail the coalition and let us know at what level you would like to participate.**

Other CAII action today:

Common Sense America discusses how the Senate burdens us, the taxpayers, with the costs of its amnesty bill.