U.S. District Court Strikes Down Local Ordinance Against Illegal Aliens

Judge Munley of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania ruled yesterday that a local ordinance, known as the Illegal Immigrant Relief Act Ordinance, regulating the presence and employment of illegal aliens was unconstitutional. The City of Hazelton also passed the Tenant Registration Ordinance which required all persons living in apartments to obtain an occupancy permit. In order to obtain an occupancy permit under the ordinance an applicant had to present proof of U.S. Citizenship or lawful permanent residency.

Judge Munley made a strong statement in his 206 page opinion, announcing that "[w]e cannot say clearly enough that persons who enter this country without legal authorization are not stripped immediately of all of their rights because of this single act."

This opinion is a good first strike in the battle that is no on-going between local and state governments and civil rights organizations over local laws which seek to regulate immigration, language and other issues to target immigrants.