ACLU of Florida, PRLDEF and Local Advocates Vow to Sue Over Palm Bay Anti-Immigrant Ordinance
CONTACT: media@aclu.org
PALM BAY, FL – The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, the Florida
Immigrant Advocacy Center, the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund and
the law firm of Weil, Gotshal & Manges today sent a letter to the City of
Palm Bay expressing opposition to the anti-immigrant ordinances which are under
consideration by the Palm Bay City Council. Should the Council vote to pass the
ordinances, the organizations have vowed to challenge the laws in court on
behalf of Palm Bay constituents.
“The laws, which are based on nothing more
than prejudice and hostility to immigrants, do nothing to protect the community
and only lead to discrimination against Latinos and other ethnic groups,” said
Kevin Aplin of the ACLU of Florida’s Brevard Chapter. “Employers who fear
retribution for hiring undocumented workers – even if they are unaware of their
citizenship status – may begin to discriminate to avoid potential legal
complications. The city is creating a situation that hurts everyone and helps no
one.”
The most overreaching parts of the ordinances (No.’s 2006-80 and
2006-81) place civil penalties on employers who are in violation of federal law.
Implementing this type of law on a local level intrudes on the power of the
federal government to regulate immigration and enforce immigration laws, the
groups said Because the local ordinances attempt to enforce laws that Congress
has reserved for the federal enforcement, the ACLU of Florida believes that Palm
Bay's ordinances would be struck down in court.
“It is neither the place of
local government, nor in the overall interest of our country for local
communities to assume responsibilities of the federal government,” said Howard
Simon, Executive Director of the ACLU of Florida. “Preventing a chaotic
patchwork legal system in which penalties imposed on employers vary from
community to community is precisely why only the federal government should have
the power to enforce immigration laws.”
The ACLU and coalition partners said
they hope the Council will recognize that these ordinances are outside of their
authority and vote accordingly on August 17 when the measures are considered for
a final time. The groups said they are prepared to challenge such a law in
court, noting that the City of Palm Bay and its taxpayers could be responsible
for monetary and legal costs associated with the litigation.
Prior to the
August 17 city council meeting, opponents of the ordinances will gather for a
vigil and march on City Hall at 6 p.m. at 300 Malabar Road in Palm Bay.
Residents of Palm Bay are encouraged to reach out to their city council members
and express their disapproval of the ordinances.
The letter of opposition is
online at: www.aclufl.org/pdfs/PalmBayLetter.pdf