Weldon Enables Local Communities in Fight Against Illegal Immigration

Press Release

Weldon Enables Local Communities in Fight Against Illegal Immigration

Introduces Bill Restoring Community Rights to Enforce Laws Against Illegal Immigration

Washington, Sep 20 - Citing the federal government's failure to enforce its own immigration laws, U.S. Rep. Dave Weldon, M.D. (R-FL) today introduced legislation to clarify the rights of state and local authorities to address illegal immigration within their jurisdictions.

Weldon, a charter member of the bipartisan House Immigration Reform Caucus, said the Local Law Enforcement Restoration Act of 2007 is necessary to prevent liberal judges from denying communities the right to pass and enforce laws against illegal immigration, particularly when the federal government has failed to enforce laws already on the books.

"The federal government has passed immigration laws but refuses to enforce them," said Weldon. "My bill will help ensure that communities, which are forced to pay for tens of billions of dollars in services to illegal immigrants, are able to address local problems caused by the influx of illegal immigrants."

Weldon's move follows a recent, high profile court decision in which a federal judge struck down a local ordinance approved by the elected officials of Hazelton, Pennsylvania. That ordinance prohibited local landlords from housing, and employers from hiring, illegal immigrants. According to the judge, state and local communities cannot pass and enforce laws against illegal immigration - even though Hazelton's laws reinforced current federal immigration laws.

"The Hazelton decision defies common-sense," Weldon continued. "In effect, the judge told Hazelton and all local communities that federal immigration laws can't be enforced at the local level unless federal authorities do the enforcing. Clearly that's not happening. Apparently, local authorities are supposed to sit on their hands while illegal immigrants commit crimes, take jobs, and live off local taxpayers' goodwill."

According to Weldon, the judge in the Hazelton case wrongly exploited ambiguity in current law regarding what states and localities can and can't do to comply with federal immigration laws.

"My bill simply removes the ambiguity, ensuring that state and local authorities can take the necessary steps in their community to address illegal immigration without fear of being stampeded by the courts," Weldon concluded.

The Local Law Enforcement Restoration Act is endorsed by key immigration reform groups, including the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) and NumbersUSA.

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