Riverside bans housing and jobs for illegal immigrants

by: Jason Springer

Thu Jul 27, 2006 at 07:21:35 AM EDT

I caught the tail end of this on the news last night and it looked pretty contentious as the illegal immigration battle came to Riverside, NJ. You can see local TV coverage here, here and here.

700 people took turns cheering and heckling those who spoke for and against the controversial measure proposed that would punish people who provide housing or jobs to illegal immigrants within the Township.

The measure passed 5-0. Violators would be subject to fines of up to $1,000 and other penalties and Employers could lose their local business licenses.

One resident supporting the new measure had a sign that read, "Drive your van back across the Rio Grande." Another resident said "If you're not in this country legally, you are not in this town legally,"

A resident opposing the measure said, "The problem is discrimination. If you read the history of Riverside, it was built on immigration. Why is it a problem now?"

My questions: How are they going to enforce this and is this even legal? This debate needs a serious discussion because it's not going away and i dont think there are any easy answers.

Jason Springer :: Riverside bans housing and jobs for illegal immigrants

Tags: Illegal Immigration, Riverside, (All Tags)

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Riverside bans housing and jobs for illegal immigrants | 4 comments

Totally unenforceable (0.00 / 0)

If it went to court, a "knowledge" requirement would probably be read into it since there is most likely not enough of a life and safety concern to make it strict liability...(like statutory rape, where you are implied to have knowledge of the victim's age, even if you did not)

And, if a knowledge requirement is read into it, or in there expressly already, then anyone prosecuted under it would be advised to just deny knowledge of a person's status. Legally, it would be a joke.

The social implications, however, like encouraging racial profiling, are still very real.

by: morrisdem @ Thu Jul 27, 2006 at 11:31:07 AM UTC

ignorance breeds hate (4.00 / 1)

It's funny how they'll scapegoat illegal immigrants for all their problems, and then display a sign like this:

"Drive your van back across the Rio Grande."

This is nothing but knee-jerk racism. Most of the immigrants in town are from Brazil, not Mexico. I wonder if they also blame their ignorance of geography on illegal immigrants, too.

by: Juan Melli @ Thu Jul 27, 2006 at 11:39:34 AM UTC

as if..... (0.00 / 0)

....the lawns of Riverside weren;t nappy enough to begin with.

activist for hire.

by: Jay Lassiter @ Thu Jul 27, 2006 at 13:22:39 PM UTC

In my travels and travails, recently... (0.00 / 0)

I have had a chance to speak with a number of people. This issue has really taken hold and those who are struggling economically are the ones most vehement in their anger at illegals.

The repubs and their media squawkboxes are getting a real foothold. There needs to be some balance in this.

That said, I would put the real responsibility at the feet of those who hire them and the government agencies that turn a blind eye.

The nom de plume has a long and distinguished history.

by: Tandalayo Scheisskopf @ Thu Jul 27, 2006 at 18:21:16 PM UTC