Farmers Branch Embarrasses Itself & Texas

Well, Farmers Branch has done it. The have passed their racist and probably unconstitutional city ordinance aimed at illegal aliens. They "chickened out" on the proposal to fine businesses for hiring illegals -- businesses have a lot of political clout in small-town Texas, but they did pass the other two measures.

The first would fine apartment owners if they are found to be renting to any illegal immigrants. They could be fined $500 per person per day. Gerry Henigsman, from the Apartment Association of Greater Dallas, said, "Landlords can't really serve as law enforcement or be held accountable for carrying out a function that belongs with the government. Farmers Branch conviently moves the responsibility for immigration enforcement to the landlord and says, 'If you don't do it we're going to fine you'. I think it's telling illegal immigrants, 'we don't mind you working in our city in minimum-wage jobs, cutting our grass. We don't mind you spending money in our stores. We just don't want you living here and sending your children to our schools'."

LULAC has already said they will be taking the city to court. The ACLU, the Texas Apartment Association, and several other groups are also seriously considering legal action. It looks like by passing this ordinance, the city will now have to spend thousands of dollars defending their racist action in court.

And what about this misuse of police? Is Farmers Branch so crime-free that they can afford to use their police to punish apartment houses that might rent to an illegal immigrant? I doubt if the victims of real crime in Farmers Branch feel this way.

The second part of their new ordinance makes English the official language. This one is just stupid. It also shows a serious lack of understanding of both Texas history and geography. The Spanish language was spoken in this part of the country for hundreds of years before English. In fact, during the Texas revolution for independence, many of those who fought for Texas were Spanish-speakers, including many of the Alamo's defenders. Spanish has continuously been spoken in Texas since the first European's "discovered" and colonized this area.

The new ordinance in Farmers Branch is a disgrace to decent Texans, and an insult to Texans of Hispanic-origin.