OUR VIEW: Will ordinance end frustrations?

Saturday, Jul 26, 2008 - 01:11:11 am CDT

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

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Tired of Morons-Used to be Bobo
Jul 26, 2008 8:43 AM
I don't know about frustration, so much. But I've become pretty disgusted. I'm embarrassed to tell people where I live. First chance I get, I'm gone. I spend a lot of money here, support local merchants, and operate a small business.

I'd always heard Fremont was kinda backwards and small-minded; I always attributed it to just typical small town hillbilly-ness. But there's more to it. The ordinance per se is not racist, its just ink on paper. But the people behind it and supporting it are. I even find myself looking at people differently and wondering-is he a racist? Is he a redneck? And I'll admit, that doesn't make me a whole lot different than those that see an Hispanic and wonder-is he illegal?

Its sickening and I hate it here.
To Tired of Morons
Jul 28, 2008 8:17 AM
Tired of Morons-Used to be Bobo: Why are those who support this racist? If the ordinance is not racist how would that automatically make those who support it racist?

In order to be racist one must be against a certain race of people. The people I know who support this ordinance are not against a race of people but are simply against turning a blind eye to those who do not come here through legal measures.

Could it be that those who are saying that it's about race (or that those supporting it are racist) are doing so because they assume that only one race of people are illegal? That seems more racist to me than someone who says I don't care where you're from or the color of your skin, someone has to do something if you're not here by legal measures.

Please, if you're so sure that all those who support this are racist give specific examples. Show me how support in this ordinance automatically equals racist.

I also am curious to know is it just a problem with this ordinance that you have specifically or immigration laws in general?
Renter
Jul 28, 2008 12:00 PM
The city will just face lawsuits because of this ordinance. It will cost money to defend in court, and even more money to create and sustain the bureaucracy required to even begin to try and enforce it.

And as a renter, I may be tempted to file the first lawsuit if I choose to move and have to get an "occupancy license" which is clearly a measure that discriminates against those residents who, for whatever reasons, choose not to own a home.
Tired of Morons-Used to be Bobo
Jul 28, 2008 3:21 PM
Specifically, I am tired of the ignorant, backwards, redneck, pea-brained, short-sighted, poo-cleanin', arrogant, tabacky-chewin, nascar-lovin, gun-totin', tatoo-wearin', git-er-dun doin', blue hair-havin', civil-war re-enactin', GED failin', wife-beater wearin', George Bush is my daddy I love war morons of Fremont.

Those are the things I have a problem with. I might have left something out, though. I'll post them as I think of them.

To make you happy, I left out Racist and Bigoted.
Citizen
Jul 28, 2008 3:46 PM
This is not only about racist, it also about discrimination. I was born in Mexico and now I’m a U.S citizen. It took years and a lot of money to become one. I agree that people should respect the laws of this nation, and that people who migrate here should know the language. But coming here with my parents who were illegal immigrants and being one myself, I know what is like to be discriminated because of who you are, your skin color, and your language. My father had a chance to become a permanent resident a long, long time ago. Back when because of working on the fields the government would give you a working permit, and then gave you that chance of being a permanent resident. I know it’s not easy being illegal; it is hard for me to see people being discriminated since I still am sometimes just because I look Hispanic. If this ordinance passes, it will not only affect the illegal immigration, it will affect everybody who looks Hispanic. We will be question about our legal status just because of who we are. I don’t want to go thru this again and I don’t want this to happen to my children either. So you see, this is about being racist. Nobody can tell me that someone who goes to Wal-mart and said crap, and throws a shopping cart to defenseless women and has nothing better to do than that is not a racist. Maybe that old guy can go apply at Hormel since there is nothing better for him to do than that and since there will be a lot of job openings if this ordinance passes. Think about it? I know Joseph P. Sokolovsky will have something to say about this, since he has nothing better to do than type stupid comments about this issue. So I’ll be waiting!!
To Tired of Morons
Jul 28, 2008 4:04 PM
"Specifically, I am tired of the ignorant, backwards, redneck, pea-brained, short-sighted, poo-cleanin', arrogant, tabacky-chewin, nascar-lovin, gun-totin', tatoo-wearin', git-er-dun doin', blue hair-havin', civil-war re-enactin', GED failin', wife-beater wearin', George Bush is my daddy I love war morons of Fremont."

Than your issue isn't with this ordinance it's with individuals. I'm not ignorant, last I checked I was forward thinking, my neck isn't red it's brown, my brain isn't the size of a pea, I try to think ahead, the only poo I've cleaned is that off the butt of my baby, I'm not arrogant because I don't think I'm better than anyone else, don't chew tabacco, can't stand Nascar, don't have a gun and wouldn't want one in my home, I do have one tattoo but it's tastefully done and not viewable to anyone else, I hate the term git er done, my hair is black not blue, I've never re-enacted the Civil War nor watched one, I'm a high school and college graduate, I am female and straight so I've never beaten my wife, and I never would my husband, George Bush is most certainly not my daddy and I can't stand the man, nor do I support the war. Even though you left them out, I'm also not racist or bigoted. In fact, I'm part of a mix raced family so I do happen to understand what racism means on a personal level.

The point is just because I choose to support this ordinance you automatically lump me into the group of individuals you just listed off. Only based on my decision to support this. Tell me how that's any better than the folks you claim are being ignorant, etc?

If it's the individuals you have issue with than you should be taking issue with them specifically not lumping all supporters of this into one group because it's not the same way you think.
To Citizen
Jul 28, 2008 4:29 PM
Citizen-
From the proposed ordinance:
"Upon receipt of a complete signed application and the payment of the
application fee as set forth above, the City shall immediately issue an
occupancy license. The City shall not deny an occupancy license to any
occupant who submits a completed application and pays the application fee."

That means once you submit the application and pay the fee the City HAS to issue you the permit regardless of your status and what you claim on the application.

From the proposed ordinance:
"The terms of this section shall be applied uniformly, and enforcement procedures shall not differ based on a person’s race, ethnicity, religion, or national origin."

That means that it is across the board in order to eliminate discrimination.

From the proposed ordinance:
"Promptly after issuance of an occupancy license to any occupant who has not declared himself or herself to be either a citizen or a national of the United States, the Department shall, pursuant to Title 8, United States Code, Section 1373(c), request the federal government to ascertain whether the occupant is an alien lawfully present in the United States. The Department shall submit to the
federal government the identity and immigration status information contained on the application for the occupancy license, along with any other information requested by the federal government."

Your information on the application is private. It can only be shared with the Federal government if someone does not declare themselves to be a citizen or a national of the United States.

In addition, the police, or anyone else for that matter, cannot simply pull you over and demand to see your permit for renting and the only thing that a landlord must see before renting to you is a permit. Which we've already established HAS to be given to all who file the application and pay the fee. Regardless of their race, religion, or claim of status.

As you can see the ordinance is not about race or profiling, all landlord/renters (and employers/employees)will have to follow the same procedure(s).

Does racism exsist in Fremont? Yes, it does. The problem is that you're dealing with individuals in that example. You're dealing with people who have their own beliefs, ignorance, and thoughts. That can and does happen even if you don't live in Fremont.

*The Tribune has provided the proposed ordinance on this website for all to read. I would suggest everyone do so. Use the search feature and search: Read proposed ordinance on illegal immigration
LSB
Jul 28, 2008 4:32 PM
OMG!! Tired of Morons- Used to be Bobo... I just have to say that post CRACKED ME UP!! It is funny because it is true in so many cases.

I do believe there are people for this ordinance that are not basing it on race, but in this town I also believe the majority of those for the ordinace are basing it on their bigotry. It is how Fremont has always been. The "blue-hairs" as you put it have always been in charge and what they didnt like was taken care of. Today it is not as easy to "run them out of town" as it was 30-50 years ago.
Watchman
Jul 28, 2008 5:51 PM
Well stated, Citizen!
Very Disappointed
Jul 28, 2008 7:03 PM
First of all, I am not saying that just because you are in support of this ordinance that you are a racist. That being said, this topic is doing our community no good, because it is feeding racist points of views. Case in point not all, but some of the postings on this site are racially motivated - How do we know that we have an illegal immigration problem here in the first place? Because there are alot of hispanic people moving into our community? a lot of what I am hearing from these posting are stereo typing the hispanic community. Are we saying that a person is most likly illegal if they are hispanic don't speak english and live in a trailer park in a trailer housing more than one family. If so, that does not identify a person as being illegal. This is really the tone of most of the postings on this subject and it is just plain sad to think that I live in a community with this type of views - Don't get me wrong, I believe that a person should be here legally, but there is only so much you can do to verify a persons legal status before you start treading into discriminatory practices. If you are so sure that a person is illegal, call the law, because it is already against the LAW - AHHH, but it isn't that easy is it - Proof isn't a gut instinct and could land you a lawsuit if you are relying on an instinct rather than proof.
UPDATE
Jul 29, 2008 7:48 AM
Rumor has it that a couple City Councilmen and local businessmen will attempt to get tonight’s reading of the ordinance to be both the 2nd & 3rd reading so the issue would be closed tonight. In order for that to occur, they would need the majority of the Council to vote in agreement of that. There is a good possibility that it could pass.

Thus, if you were planning on waiting to speak until the last meeting which would be on August 26th, you may want to show up tonight instead as it may be your only chance to be heard. Meeting will begin at 7:00 at the Fremont High School McPherson Auditorium.
To Update
Jul 29, 2008 1:54 PM
The maneuver by the city-council sounds illegal to me. It’s funny how people can purposely break the law whenever convenient for them. See you in court Bob…
Tired of Morons-Used to be Bobo
Jul 29, 2008 2:00 PM
My biggest fear is that Fremont will become a "safe haven"-not for illegals, but for moronic racists.

But I think it's too late.