Vol. 71/No. 21      May 28, 2007

The ban passed by a vote of 68 percent to 32 percent, according to the Associated Press. It requires apartment managers in this city of 27,000 to verify that renters are U.S. citizens or legal residents before leasing to them.

Starting on May 22, landlords who break the rule could be punished by fines of up to $500 per day.

The Farmer Branch City Council approved the ordinance in November. In January, the council revised the law to exempt minors, seniors, and families whose members are both documented and undocumented.

The city already faces four lawsuits from civil rights groups, residents, landlords, and businessmen, who argue that local authorities cannot make immigration policy and that the ban violates the Federal Housing Act. Attorneys of some landlords said they will seek a restraining order before it takes effect, the Dallas Morning News reported today.

At a May 12 victory party, some city officials made it clear they plan to get tougher on immigrants. But they said they will wait until the ordinance comes up for review in six months before they push for further restrictions, such as penalizing businesses who employ undocumented workers.

Authorities in more than 90 cities or towns have proposed, passed, or rejected laws banning landlords from renting to undocumented immigrants, penalizing businesses that employ them, or deputizing local cops as la migra.

The chauvinist campaign for the Farmers Branch ban has created an atmosphere of tension and intimidation in the area. The home of Mayor Robert Phelps was vandalized shortly after he publicly opposed the measure. The vote was monitored by U.S. Justice Department officials. At one local apartment complex a manager told the Morning News that occupancy is already down 7 percent.

Apartment complexes in neighboring towns, however, are already trying to attract Farmers Branch residents who may have to move. "Stress-free living," advertises a flier for the Clipper Pointe Apartments in Addison, Texas, some eight miles northeast. "If you are a Farmers Branch resident, we have the perfect special just for you," it reads. "Se habla español. [We speak Spanish.]"

Addison mayor Joe Chow, originally from Taiwan, said the Farmers Branch ban "divides the community."

In Farmers Branch, a 20-year-old undocumented construction worker named José spoke out against the ordinance to the Morning News. "There are so many Mexicans here now," he said. The paper reported that, like many other workers in the area, he explained, "We just come here to work."
 
 
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