Is this really the road we want to travel as a nation, forcing men, women, and children, to live in the streets of America? Aren’t all children, living in the United States, no matter what their immigration status, worthy of shelter, warmth, and safety? What do we do with blended families, do we “check” all the “papers” of the occupants renting apartment or buying homes? Isn’t there a much deeper moral question we should be asking ourselves here?

Last month, a federal court struck down an ordinance in Farmers Branch, Texas, that sought to ban landlords from renting to illegal immigrants. This Dallas suburb of 27,500 people is now waiting to hear from the court on a second ordinance – one that requires tenants to get a residency permit from City Hall in order to rent apartments.

Under the new ordinance, prospective buyers or renters would have to prove their citizenship or residency status in order to obtain the license. Supporters say if the new ordinance is deemed constitutional, it would spread to other area communities contemplating measures to control illegal immigration.

http://blog.newsinitiative.org/2008/06/17/federal-problems-local-solutions/

121 Thoughts to “Is this an American Value, local governments creating homelessness?”

  1. Chris

    MH,

    It’s like somebody said earlier ICE has bigger fish to fry. Why in the hell would they worry about 50 men loitering at 7-11 to find work. I personally hope and want ICE going after corporations. They could start in Rockingham County at the poultry plants, Smithfield meats, etc.
    ICE was certainly interested in the concrete company right here Manassas.

    You say BFD, I say UFB! 😉
    Both are quite fitting IMHO.

    Censored,
    I hope we get to exchange some of local yocal stories soon. I reall would like to meet you. We’ve had a couple of “rounds” in a “different world”. Yet, we could always find a thing or two to agree on. A mutual friend knew exactly who the fools were that stop by here to grind the stump in the front yard. She even knew name of one. lol

  2. Chris

    I would also like to add. I don’t want to drive by their and see anyone hanging out. Loiter free is loiter free, right?

    I guess it could be said WHAT PART OF LOITERING DON’T YOU UNDERSTAND?

  3. Chris:

    It’s like somebody said earlier ICE has bigger fish to fry. Why in the hell would they worry about 50 men loitering at 7-11 to find work. I personally hope and want ICE is working on after corporations. They could start in Rockingham County at the poultry plants, Smithfield meats, etc.
    ICE was certainly interested in the concrete company right here Manassas.

    All the high profile ICE raids are nothing more than an illusion to mollify the voting public. The Bush Administration is doing it’s best to help John McCain get elected. These raids are all political stunts. The politicians know immigrants are part of the economy. They’re not really going to do anything. They’re not stupid enough to cut off their nose to spite their face and damage their own economy. It takes a local politician to be that stupid.

  4. OneForTheRoad

    Chris said “I would also like to add. I don’t want to drive by their and see anyone hanging out. Loiter free is loiter free, right?”

    So we all agree then – no Hispanic loiters, and no need for HSM to come by and photograph them.

    Sounds like a good solution – everyone’s happy! The problem is everyone knows with things left the way there are now – “no Hispanic loiters” will never happen without someone doing something to stop them from loitering. As no one is, HSM is stepping in and doing that work. So if the Hispanics stop loitering, then obviously there won’t be any HSM loiters.

    That shows how silly this whole argument is.

  5. Chris

    Mackie,
    Your point is well taken. I can’t even get started on local politics.

  6. Chris

    OFTR,

    I don’t think either group should be loitering. This all too in your face for me. I’ve been know to take pictures. However, without incident. It’s all in the approach.

    Yes, it’s silly,indeed!!

  7. Censored bybvbl

    Chris, one day you, Moon-howler, and I could meet to support a particular local business. Moon-howler knows which one.

  8. Loudoun

    Say what you want, but HSM is performing a public service by documenting the illegal hiring of illegal alien day laborers. It is a violation of federal law to employ an illegal alien. ICE obviously does care about illegal aliens – that is one of the purposes of their job. ICE just does not have the resources to round them all up and ship them all back to their home countries.

    HSM isn’t loitering when we are at the day laborer spots. We certainly aren’t drinking alcohol, urinating and defectating in public, harassing women, and being a general public nuisance. Please remember that if the illegal alien day laborers weren’t destroying the businesses of these 7-11’s, HSM members wouldn’t have to spend our time documenting anything!

    HSM is actually doing something about the problem. What is here at anti is a lot of persons posting nasty, derogatory comments about an organization or our local leaders that are focused on bettering our community and our county.

  9. em

    I would not rent one of my homes to an illegal, I always ask for proper id and documentation. I also do a credit check and other stuff to ensure they are who they say they are.

  10. Censored bybvbl

    Loudoun, HSM has cost this county enough already. How many times will the police be called because your little vigilante group has to hunt Hispanics?

    Please remember that if the illegal alien day laborers weren’t destroying the businesses of these 7-11’s, HSM members wouldn’t have to spend our time documenting anything!

    Hogwash. I hope you don’t honestly think anyone falls for that excuse for your harrassment. No one is forcing you to do anything. You’ve got a couple people in your organization who love to stick their noses in front of cameras. That’s the real reason you’re there…hoping for publicity.

  11. AWCheney

    The accusation that those on the other side of the illegal alien situation are targeting Hispanics is perpetually forwarded by the illegal alien “lobby” in Prince William County, yet I primarily hear “Hispanics” specifically mentioned in the debate by people who make statements such as, “How many times will the police be called because your little vigilante group has to hunt Hispanics?” If the debate has devolved into one focusing on Hispanics, you ought to be looking in the mirror before you ask why.

  12. Alanna

    There seems to be a misunderstanding about hiring daylaborers. AWCheney do you want to clear up the issue? I think you did a wonderful job the last time explaining your experience at the masonry company.

  13. AWCheney

    I’ll be happy to explain my experience during the time I managed our family masonry construction company (after the death of my father) but I don’t understand what you mean regarding the “misunderstanding about hiring day laborers.”

    I first became aware of the homeless situation in Prince William County in the early 80’s from one of my sisters who periodically volunteered at the SERVE shelter in Manassas. A construction company often encounters immediate need for labor in the day-to-day operation of the business due to attrition or needs during “off season” construction (meaning not during the summer months when large armies of high school and college students were looking for summer work, and even unskilled laborers could make extremely good money in construction…we paid LEGAL, market wages). To make a long story short, I simply made the decision to periodically offer those jobs to men at the Shelter, rather than only running ads in the newspapers. A man with the right attitude and work ethic could make a very good living in those jobs…many of our skilled bricklayers, even foremen, actually started out with our company as laborers.

    I find it senseless for a construction company, or any company for that matter, to be hiring people who are taking jobs illegally and are here today, gone tomorrow, simply to save a few dollars. It’s pure exploitation at the expense of people who are here legally and need those jobs just as badly, while not breaking the law to get them.

  14. Loudoun

    Censored,

    We aren’t vigilantes, we don’t hunt anyone, I personally have never had my face on camera, and we certainly don’t harass anyone.

    The only way to effect change is to bring to light the problems that are facing our county, our state, and our nation. I certainly don’t do this for fame, but for my loyalty and love for my country.

    You don’t know me, and I am sure you don’t know any members of HSM, because if you did, you wouldn’t make those accusations.

    Why don’t you come to our next meeting so you can see how utterly misguided you are?

  15. Censored bybvbl

    The accusation that those on the other side of the illegal alien situation are targeting Hispanics is perpetually forwarded by the illegal alien “lobby” in Prince William County, yet I primarily hear “Hispanics” specifically mentioned in the debate by people who make statements such as, “How many times will the police be called because your little vigilante group has to hunt Hispanics?” If the debate has devolved into one focusing on Hispanics, you ought to be looking in the mirror before you ask why.

    AWCheney, since you quoted me and I was talking about the activity at the 7-11 (Coverstone, in particular), do you deny that the day laborers there are Hispanic?

    We aren’t vigilantes, we don’t hunt anyone, I personally have never had my face on camera, and we certainly don’t harass anyone.

    A video camera, you mean? Perhaps you don’t harrass anyone, but a witness who happened to visit that 7-11 was surprised by what he (or she) saw…two members of your group shouting at the day laborers (something similar to “Go home. Get out of our country. You don’t belong here.”)

  16. Chris

    Censored,
    I’ve told MH to get on it. I know the place too. We shall meet soon.

  17. Loudoun

    Let the witness come forward and then we will see who is lying. That was NEVER said at the 7-11 and whoever claimed they witnessed it is a liar. However, the illegal alien day laborers have yelled at us – expletives and words too foul to be repeated here.

    Censored – you and those who associate with you either have blinders on or are lost in some alternate reality.

    I invited you to see for yourself what HSM is all about. Will you take me up on the offer or will you keep slandering those whom you know nothing at all about?

  18. Censored bybvbl

    Loudoun, I didn’t just drop off the turnip truck. I’ve followed this issue. I don’t need to attend HSM meetings (just as I don’t attend MWB’s meetings) to get the drift. I’ve read your (HSM’s) newsletters, read BVBL (the dog food thread, the Christmas parade thread, and a multitude of others), read the MJM and WaPo as well as many other blogs and newspapers. I’ve seen how the majority of Manassas City Republicans rejected HSM’s slate and how the SPLC has labelled Greg a nativist. I’ve seen how the KKK can feel at ease in dropping its literature off on Manassas streets. I’ve seen how FAIR bombarded, with the help of HSM, our BOCS and influenced policy without input at a public hearing from the average PWC resident. Here’s a clue for you…the vast majority of County residents are unaffected by overcrowding and day laborers at 7-11.

    I have no reason to believe the person who said that he witnessed the above statements is lying. In fact, it rather backs up what the Hispanic men in 9500liberty’s video said. Maybe you have the ability to be reasonable; but unless you’re always there with the HSM crew, you can’t vouch that it didn’t happen.

    Chris, hope to see you soon.

  19. Moon-howler

    Well, let me be blunt since that seems to be a word of the day.

    I have a lot more respect for some illegal immigrant trying to work (not that I KNOW who is and who isn’t) than some lazy ass native born citizen sitting on his or her tail, drinking and drugging and contributing nothing to society.

    As a citizen of the world, when it comes to compassion, I think we can look beyond political boundaries.

  20. junkyard dog

    Perhaps we need to explore and discuss what vigilanteeism is and what it is not.

    Unless HSM has a written agreement with the 7-11 where they are loitering along with the day laborers, I would think they were out there as vigilantees.

    No one has successfully stated what changes have been made since HSM has been out there. Are there still day laborers? yes. Are there still still people swinging by for workers? yes So what has changed?

    Oh and as many times as I have gone past the Coverstone 7-11, I see hispanic workers almost 100% of the time. I find it odd that HSM assumes everyone is illegal. What are they going to do when they report an American citizen for being hired, if anyone even cares.

    Loudoun, stay away from that kool aid. Poison alert!

  21. Love that dog creech….

    Good dog i love you.. Ikon snoop dog i want to love. How to get your dog to love you. Love life back dog falling….

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