Farmers Branch Mayor Bob Phelps talks

EdWeirdness, says:

The very first thing that FB voters do following Saturdays election, is to initiate a recall of this moron!

sar1776, says:

I'm getting about darn tired of you biggots out there calling those of us who actually live in Farmers Branch, and who want our Federal laws enforced, racists. I expect our Federal government to uphold our laws and when they don't, I expect our State and Local governments to do it for them.

I am married to someone from Mexico, so don't go calling those of us supporting the anti-illegal alien bill as "white separatists." That does nothing more than show your ignorance.

Signed, a Farmers Branch resident

powen37, says:

I just had a discussion about illegal immigrants in the U.S. the other day. I get labeled as a racist because I want the laws upheld, but when I ask fellow employees if the tables were turned and we went south to look for work then its not ok. Why is that? I mean it would be the same and the answer is well you were not born there so why should you have the same rights. No kidding so why the double standard? Thanks, Confused in Carrollton

powen37, says:

AP) Voters in Farmers Branch decided today whether to repeal or approve an ordinance prohibiting landlords from renting apartments to most illegal immigrants.

The ban was being approved by a 3-to-1 margin after early votes were counted.

Voters in the Dallas suburb are the first in the nation to vote on a regulation requiring apartment managers to verify that renters are U.S. citizens or legal immigrants before leasing to them.

If voters approve the ban, opponents plan to seek a restraining order to stop the city from enforcing it and try to get the case to trial.

Council members first approved the ban in November, saying the federal government has failed to address illegal immigration.

Sounds like the minority won and the "guest workers" didn't.

jefmelch, says:

It seems to me the people most protected by enforcing immigration laws are themselves immigrants.

There are a limited number of apartments, or jobs, or seats in schools, for anybody, citizens or immigrants. Call these social "slots". It's like musical chairs. A lot of slots, but more people cirling around looking for a slot than there are slots. The legal immigrants face quotas, fair or unfair, that limit the number of such people who can even join the circle. So a limited number of Nigerians or Somalis or Thais or Burmese or Hatians are in contention for apartments in Farmers Branch.

The illegals face a legal quota as well. But they have ignored it. So people who bypass the US consulate in their homeland, bypass checkpoints at airport of departure, bypass entry points in the United States, all show up in the queue loooking for jobs, and apartments, in Farmers Branch.

Failure to enforce the immigration laws grants special advantage to non-citizens from nations proximate and continguous to the United States over those from nations distant and separated by geography.

You can argue that immigrants of European bloodstock and speaking Latinate language SHOULD be preferenced over those of non-European stock and other language groups. But if you do, don't try to call ME the racist.

Don't pull the "diversity" argument on me either. A diverse community would include the Haitians and Thais of other skin tone. But these legal immigrants are now shut out by the illegals comprising the second largest racial demographic group in this country.

A "majority privilege" line of attach won't work either. The US no longer has a racial majority. All races comprise a minority, and the question is only how much of a plurality any one group can muster. The best way to avoid any one group oppressing the rest is to ensure all immigrants of all races -- playing by the rules -- add to the population in fair numbers.

Now, the question of whether a small suburb should or can enforce a law that the federal government cannot is a fair one. But let's broaden that question too. Should a local police force or a county sherriff be responsible to enforce federal narcotics laws? Should the city enforce the federal Fair Housing Act on apartment owners? Does a city have any duty to enforce American with Disability Act rules by echoing federal law in the local building code? Does the police force in Waco have any jurisdiction over the Branch Davidian's violations of the regulations of the ATF?

I suggest that the town is in a BETTER posture to enforce such laws in a fair and humane manner than out-of-town federal marshalls. But you may disagree...

vincent442, says:

Racist?! Nobodys talking race here..merely enforcing the rule of law. Are you not aware that legal immigration already is at a 50+ year high and that our cities are becoming increasingly Dicksenian slums? Add to this the spectre of uncontrolled illegal immigration and you get an increasingly ugly picture of environmental degradation and a depleted social service system. Clearly immigration is a necessary and vital component to the future economic,cultural and social welfare of this Nation. Moreover the diversity inherent in a rich immigrant mix ensure that America in the future will remain a beacon of hope to the world and a powerful magnet to the best and brightest of those abroad to take up stakes and try their luck here.However like a utility pipeline it is a flow that must be managed with care lest there be floods or droughts. Thus it is incumbent upon us as a Nation to strictly enforce a fair worldwide quota system to properly manage influx levels.

kirk, says:

Vincent442:

What "rule of law"?

Please see Brown v. Board of Eduction for clarification about your error in alleging that Farmers Branch is "merely enforcing the rule of law."

You might also check out the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which states “No state [may]… deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”

Even though you say Dallas and surrounding areas are "becoming ... Dickensian slums," the public libraries still provide access to documents containing U.S. laws.