PA Town Cracks Down on Illegals, Hispanics Leaving in Droves

The small hillside city of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, may seem to be an unlikely place for an innovative and unique law targeting illegal immigrants. But the mayor of Hazleton, Lou Barletta, announced in June that he was going to aggressively target illegals, after two illegal immigrants from the Dominican Republic were charged in a fatal shooting. Mayor Barletta and many citizens of Hazleton contend that the influx of illegals over the past decade has brought drugs, crime, and gangs to the city, overwhelming police and municipal budgets and changing the atmosphere of the town.

The ordinance, which was approved by the City Council in September, denies business permits to companies that employ illegal immigrants and imposes stiff fines on landlords who are found renting to illegals. The law gives the city the power to investigate written complaints about a person's immigration status, using a federal database. A second ordinance going into effect Wednesday requires every person renting a house or apartment in Hazleton to register their name, address, and phone number at City Hall and pay $10 for a rental permit. Landlords who fail to make sure their tenants are registered can be fined $1,000, plus a penalty of $250 per tenant per day. The goal is to discourage illegal immigrants from even trying to rent in Hazleton.

The steady influx of Hispanics into Hazleton surged dramatically several years ago, with illegals being lured from neighboring metropolitan areas such as New York and Philadelphia. The promise of cheap housing, low crime rates, and the availability of jobs in nearby farms and factories made Hazleton an attractive destination. But Hazleton city leaders estimate that the city's population has increased from 23,000 to 31,000 over just the past six years—more than a 30% increase—and Hispanics now represent 30% of the population.

Many white residents of Hazleton resent the influx of Hispanics, complaining that crime rates have risen and schools are now overcrowded. A dramatic increase in minor annoyances such as double parking, littering, and loud music have caused tensions to flare in many neighborhoods. "You don't like the big-city stuff coming here," said Vincent Santopoli, 49, who has lived in Hazleton his entire life. "We're not used to it."

The number of illegal immigrants in Hazleton is unknown, but for a town of that size to assimilate such a large number of people—many of whom speak little or no English—in such a short time has strained relationships and caused numerous problems.

Opponents of the new legislation filed suit Monday to block the laws, saying that it is the federal government's exclusive right to regulate immigration, not the city council's right. "These ordinances are nothing more than an officially sanctioned witch hunt," said Cesar Perales, president of the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund, a group representing plaintiffs in the case. The plaintiffs include the Hazleton Hispanic Business Association, several illegal immigrants, several landlords, and a restaurateur.

Hispanics in Hazleton, even legal immigrants, are distressed by the new laws because of the effect they will have on the city's Hispanic district. Some shops have already closed and others are struggling to keep afloat. Elvis Soto, 27, came to the United States from the Dominican Republic a decade ago. His variety store used to make money selling calling cards, cell phones, and clothing, but now he is considering taking another job to be able to keep his store open. "Before, it was a nice place," said Soto. "Now, we have a war against us. I am legal, but I feel the pressure also."

Isabel Rubio, who owns a gift shop, said that business is so bad she and her husband had to put their house up for sale and move into an apartment above their store, where they have started to dip into their savings to be able to pay their bills. "I am in a lot of stress right now," said Rubio, 50, who moved from Columbia to Hazleton 24 years ago. "Every day, we hope to have a good day."

But the mayor and supporters of the laws insist the intent is not to hobble the economic status of legal immigrants in the city, because they are not the ones causing the problems. Mayor Barletta, who is an outspoken anti-illegal immigration activist, said that he sympathizes with struggling Hispanic business owners. But, he added, the fact that revenues are down so dramatically is proof that the city had a serious problem with illegal immigration.

"I've said from the beginning that my goal was to make Hazleton one of the toughest cities in America for illegal aliens," Barletta said. "Today, if I was an illegal alien, I certainly wouldn't pick Hazleton as my home." The mayor said he will fight for the city's right to weed out illegals all the way to the Supreme Court if necessary, saying that the ordinance the city council has enacted is "as bulletproof as we can get it."

Police Chief Bob Ferdinand said that there was a noticeable decrease in calls for officers from the moment the impending ordinances were announced. But on October 20, a legal immigrant from the Dominican Republic was accused of shooting and killing two Hispanic men, one of whom was in the United States illegally. A neighbor, Todd Betterley, 37, was awakened by the gunshots. Betterly said that the killings were stark proof that a crackdown is necessary. "There is absolutely nothing wrong with trying to find out who belongs here and who doesn't," he said. "If we could have stopped one murder by knowing where these people are, isn't it worth it?"