Supreme Court Decision on Stricter Immigration Laws

The United States Supreme Court’s recent decision to pass on reviewing a city ordinance that prohibits the renting homes to undocumented immigrants could affect the status of similar immigration laws in other parts of the country. The ordinance in place in the small town of Fremont, Nebraska, requires that renters apply for a permit, pay a $5 registration fee and swear that they have a legal right to live in the U.S. Advocates for controls on illegal immigration hailed the decision, while opponents decried it as a violation of human rights.

Justices: Ordinance Does Not Interfere with Immigration Laws

Since the Supreme Court refused to review the immigration laws as they relate to the ordinance, the decision made by the 8th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals last year to uphold the ordinance still stands. In their decision not to hear the case, the court ruled that the ordinance does not discriminate specifically against any ethnic or religious group and that it does not interfere with current federal immigration laws.

Attorney Sees “Green Light” for Tougher Immigration Laws

Kris Kobach, the Kansas Secretary of State who defended the Fremont ordinance, called the decision a “final and complete victory” for advocates of tougher immigration laws. She stated that the high court’s stance gives other cities in the 8th Circuit a “green light” to enact similar immigration laws. The area that the 8th Circuit covers includes Arkansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, as well as North and South Dakota.

Immigration Laws Affect Small Town

The city’s approach to immigration laws was believed to have been instituted in response to an increasing number of Hispanics moving into the area. The Hispanic population of Fremont jumped from less than 200 in 1990 to over 3,000 in 2010. The influx of Hispanics is largely attributed to expansion of the area’s meat-packing plants. The increase in the Hispanic population has also led to divisions among townspeople on opposite sides of the legal battle over the ordinance.

Other States Face Problems With Immigration Laws

In other parts of the country facing similar issues surrounding immigration laws, the “final and complete victory” envisioned by Ms. Korbach may be neither final nor complete. In Pennsylvania and Texas, lower courts struck down similar laws that would have limited access to housing or medical services to undocumented immigrants. The Supreme Court also refused to hear those cases. Thomas Saenz, president and general counsel for the Mexican American Legal Defense Fund, opposed the Fremont ordinance and called such laws “anti-business and anti-human rights”.

Source: Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette

Know Your Rights Regarding Immigration Laws

To find out how we can help your understanding of current immigration laws, contact us today. Our intake team will quickly connect you to an immigration attorney to take down the details of your case. You can also fill out the “Free Case Evaluation” form at the top of this page.