OUR VIEW: Will ordinance end frustrations?

One word can sum up all of the debate about illegal immigration - frustration.

Fremont City Council member Bob Warner is frustrated the federal government has done such a poor job of enforcing immigration laws. It has reached such a level that he wants Fremont to have its own law that would prohibit the harboring, renting to or hiring of those who do not have legal status to live in the United States.

There are plenty of Fremont residents who agree with him. It is frustrating that the federal government has done little do address the issue.

Yet we wonder if passage of the proposed ordinance will end those frustrations.

Let’s consider some of the proposed ordinance’s points. It would make it a crime to harbor illegal immigrants. It would require all adults who move into a rental unit to obtain an occupancy license. It would require every business employing one or more employees in Fremont to register in and use the E-Verify program, a computer-based process maintained for the Homeland Security Administration.

Harboring illegal immigrants already is against federal law. The proposed ordinance basically reaffirms that position, but provides little detail on how Fremont officials will realistically address that issue.

The occupancy licenses will automatically be granted by the Fremont Police Department, which will then verify the legal status only of those who state on the application they are not U.S. citizens or nationals. No documentation is required to be shown to receive an occupancy license.

E-Verify simply allows businesses to check to see if the information required by the federal government is accurate. Many employers, including Hormel Foods Corp., already use that system.

Will these provisions ease the frustrations of residents? We don’t think so. We think they will create additional ones.

Since the ordinance is only enforceable inside the city limits, it could have little true impact on the number of illegal immigrants living in the area. Those who do rent could move just outside city limits. That would have little impact on services provided, such as federal assistance, Medicaid or education. One of the area’s major employers - Hormel - is not within city limits.

If the ordinance is approved, Fremont surely will face lawsuits over it. Several legal experts have advised against passage of such ordinances. City officials will have to decide how to pay for that; which means either a tax increase of a cut in city services.

Yes, we are frustrated about the federal government’s inability to address the issue. As a community, we need to demand our representatives in Congress make immigration a top priority. We need to send a united message that a solution needs to be found soon. Our united voice needs to be based on fact and reason, not fear, and offer workable solutions.

We urge everyone to read the proposed ordinance. Then make an informed decision on whether this truly will address the issue or just create more frustration.

Read proposed ordinance here