Local Control? I Scoff at Your Local Control

As Allah might say, a little "red meat:"

DALLAS (AP) - The town of Farmers Branch may not yet begin enforcing its voter- endorsed law barring the rental of apartments to most illegal immigrants, a federal judge ruled Tuesday.

U.S. District Judge Sam Lindsay extended his temporary restraining order blocking the law until June 19, when he plans another ruling on whether the measure can be enforced while it is subject to legal challenges.

During a hearing Tuesday, lawyers for the Dallas suburb acknowledged there were still "drafting issues" with the ordinance. They presented a document outlining how the ordinance could be salvaged if the court finds portions of it are flawed.

The ordinance requires managers to verify that renters are U.S. citizens or legal immigrants before leasing to them, with some exceptions. Violators face fines of up to $500, and each day would be considered a separate violation.

Attorneys for the city had no comment after the hearing.

Opponents of the ordinance have argued that it is unconstitutional, discriminatory and too vague.

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people whatever federal judge feels like exploring the studio space with penumbras and emanations.

Pah - Yes, I forgot about Phyler v. Doe. So the equal protection clause does apply. I hope this case does force a reconsideration of that decision, made by many of the same legal eagles who brought you Roe v. Wade.

posted by Slublog at 04:23 PM

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