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Sky Captain · Dec 6, 2006, 07:44 AM

Cherokee Targets Landlords Renting To Illegals

CANTON, Ga. -- Cherokee County officials unanimously approved a new crackdown on illegal immigrants that is designed to force landlords to check the immigration status of their tenants.
The vote capped a lengthy session last night in which commissioners also voted to make English the county's official language and agreed to join two federal programs designed to target illegals.
Immigrant groups vowed to battle the plan in court. They blasted the commission's decision to ban critics from speaking against the proposal during the two-hour meeting.
The north Georgia county's measure would suspend the business licenses of property owners who house illegals when it takes effect in January. The landlords would be banned from collecting rent until they submit a sworn affidavit explaining how each violation has been corrected.
The Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials immediately pledged to launch a legal fight against the measure and accused commissioners of "trampling immigrant rights." Jerry Gonzalez, the group's director, and other critics were silenced before the vote by commissioners who said a public hearing on the matter was held two weeks ago.

Well, I hope the county has the teeth to enforce thiese measures.
And "trampling immigrant rights"? WTF? Rights to what? To continue to be criminals?

BlueSky · Dec 6, 2006, 10:01 AM

Originally Posted by Sky Captain

And "trampling immigrant rights"? WTF? Rights to what? To continue to be criminals?

Immigrant rights, my ass. That phrase is all they've got, and be prepared to hear it ad infinitum in the next few years.

What we're really talking about here is Invader Rights, and I'll be curious to see how many citizens remember that that's what they are...invaders.

Harry Reid was saying the other day how it "warmed his heart" when he saw the invaders take to the streets earlier this year to demand invader rights.

Come back Republicans, all is forgiven...

( I was kidding about that part.)

And BTW I applaud your county's efforts.

besson3c · Dec 6, 2006, 10:33 AM

I still think that peoples attention to this issue is often misguided. It isn't about the people, about their rights, about whether what they are doing is right or wrong...

It's about resource allocation, plain and simple: how much resources do we devote to dealing with the problem, how can we prevent negative effects of the illegals consuming our resources, and what would the effect of having the resources the illegals contribute all of a sudden vanish?

Sky Captain · Dec 6, 2006, 11:17 AM

Like living communaly in one rental home, not paying school taxes?
This is why Cherokee County is passing this law.
The Illegals will have 4-5 families on one home that is being taxed for one family.
And the school systems are suffering for it.

WalMart would suffer the most of the illegals were all deported.

olePigeon · Dec 6, 2006, 12:01 PM

Originally Posted by Sky Captain

And "trampling immigrant rights"? WTF? Rights to what? To continue to be criminals?

Certain inaliable rights granted to them by their creator and upheald by the Constitution of the United States. You don't have to be a U.S. citizen for that to apply.

Montezuma58 · Dec 6, 2006, 12:18 PM

Is the county going to train landlords how to properly verify citizenship or immigration status? What is likely to happen is that people will just avoid renting to people who look like they might be illegals.

Sky Captain · Dec 6, 2006, 12:38 PM

Perfect.

Sky Captain · Dec 6, 2006, 12:41 PM

Originally Posted by olePigeon

Certain inaliable rights granted to them by their creator and upheald by the Constitution of the United States. You don't have to be a U.S. citizen for that to apply.

Such as?
The 2dn of the Bill of Rights applies to illegals?

They have the right to circumvent LEGAL entry into the country?
Like the Irish woman I work with who fought tooth and nail to get here and stay here legally.

They do not have the right to suckle off the government teet. Period.

olePigeon · Dec 6, 2006, 12:44 PM

How about an easier to get, very cheap, lower-level work visa that has restricions on the types of jobs they can acquire, amount of income, housing, benefits, and a fixed tax rate? Perhaps increased cooperation from other countries on making these new work visas available to citizens.

They could earn enough money and stay some place long enough to file for citizenship or an extended visa for better jobs.

People would be less inclined to come in illegally if there wasn't such a long wait and it was easier to acquire a work visa.

Sky Captain · Dec 6, 2006, 12:49 PM

You know, I'm fine with the work visa.
As for the ease of immigration laws, I believe the US is not as hard as some countries.
Take Austraila for instince. I considered moving to Austraila and becoming a bush transport pilot. But it's nearly impossible to immigrate there. And harder to become a citizen.

olePigeon · Dec 6, 2006, 12:52 PM

Originally Posted by Sky Captain

Such as?

Life, liberty, and property.

Originally Posted by Sky Captain

The 2dn of the Bill of Rights applies to illegals?

It applies to absolutely everyone. That's what inalienable means.

Originally Posted by Sky Captain

They have the right to circumvent LEGAL entry into the country?

Absolutely not.

Originally Posted by Sky Captain

They do not have the right to suckle off the government teet. Period.

I agree.

Sky Captain · Dec 6, 2006, 01:05 PM

Amazing we don't get the same rights in Mexico if we were illegals.
Like protesting the government.

olePigeon · Dec 6, 2006, 01:09 PM

Originally Posted by Sky Captain

Amazing we don't get the same rights in Mexico if we were illegals.

Bingo.

Sky Captain · Dec 6, 2006, 01:20 PM

It's not the immigrants but the numbers.

nonhuman · Dec 6, 2006, 02:39 PM

The problem with legislation like this is that it puts the burden on the landlords to do the work of border patrol and the INS. Landlords generally are not going to have the training, resources, or time to do a good job of this, nor should they have to.

I'm all in favor of addressing the issue of illegal immigration, but all the 'solutions' that have been proposed so far basically amount to removing the things about America that make it appealing to people who live in other places. Well damnit, those things are what make me want to stay here too; get rid of those, and you'll not only end illegal immigration, but you'll increase emigration. You'll notice that Somalia doesn't have much of a problem with illegal immigration. As long as America is a free and prosperous country there will always be people who want to immigrate, legally or otherwise. If we're going to solve this problem, we need to do so in a way that doesn't stop America from being free and prosperous, otherwise what's the point.

Sky Captain · Dec 6, 2006, 02:44 PM

But that's where the burden belongs.
Quit encouraging illegal immigration and encourage legal immigration.

nonhuman · Dec 6, 2006, 03:21 PM

Originally Posted by Sky Captain

But that's where the burden belongs.
Quit encouraging illegal immigration and encourage legal immigration.

How does the burden of ferreting out illegal immigrants belong on random homeowners?

Montezuma58 · Dec 6, 2006, 03:51 PM

Originally Posted by nonhuman

The problem with legislation like this is that it puts the burden on the landlords to do the work of border patrol and the INS. Landlords generally are not going to have the training, resources, or time to do a good job of this, nor should they have to.

The county might as well have passed an ordinance that makes it illegal to rent to hispanics. That is probably what many owners will do rather than risk violating the county's ordinance. But by doing that many landlords might end up unwittingly violating the Fair Housing Act. Regardless of your position on immigration it's really just unfair to put the landlords in this spot.

PER3 · Dec 6, 2006, 04:19 PM

Originally Posted by Sky Captain

You know, I'm fine with the work visa.
As for the ease of immigration laws, I believe the US is not as hard as some countries.
Take Austraila for instince. I considered moving to Austraila and becoming a bush transport pilot. But it's nearly impossible to immigrate there. And harder to become a citizen.

Maybe there were difficulties in your case.

I have an acquaintance who took 28 days to get his papers for migrating to Australia. He was a single young Russian, spoke good English, and was well-qualified in IT. He also had relatives there to vouch for him.

The system is based on points for these metres and others.

If you have enough points, you are in.

It is not easy, but it is far from impossible if you fulfil the requirements.

One out of five current Australians was not born in the country.

Please come — we need you!

Uncle Skeleton · Dec 6, 2006, 05:32 PM

About half the places I've rented have charged me $30 so they can check my credit. Assuming checking someone's immigration status is roughly equal in cost and effort, I don't see a problem. Is it (harder)?

Sky Captain · Dec 6, 2006, 06:32 PM

They're not renting apartments but mobile homes and houses.
They pay cash.

Uncle Skeleton · Dec 6, 2006, 06:35 PM

um...so what?

Sky Captain · Dec 6, 2006, 06:51 PM

No credit check.
Or citizenry check.
Yet.

Uncle Skeleton · Dec 6, 2006, 07:12 PM

I said that some landlords check credit beforehand, so it's obviously not an undue burden. How hard is it to check immigration status? Does anyone know?

Sky Captain · Dec 6, 2006, 07:16 PM

Don't you have to have a green card # or SSN to have a credit score?

I'll hgave to ask the Irish gal when I go to work tomorrow.