U.S. Justice Department Files Lawsuit against Arizona over Racial Profiling Law

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 6, 2010

Contact:
Francisco Lopez, Executive Director: (503) 269-5694
Erik Sorensen, Communications Director: (503) 488-0263

U.S. Justice Department Files Lawsuit against Arizona over Racial Profiling Law

Salem, Ore.--Today the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit in federal court against the state of Arizona over their racial profiling law, S.B. 1070. The lawsuit argues that Federal authority to enforce immigration law trumps state statute. The Department of Justice has asked for a preliminary injunction to delay the law from going into affect-- citing that it will cause "irreparable harm".

The following is a statement from Francisco Lopez, Executive Director of CAUSA, Oregon's Statewide Immigrant Rights Coalition:

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Texas City Being Sued Over Immigration Ordinance

Opponents of an immigration ordinance are suing Farmers Branch, a Dallas suburb. The ordinance bans apartment and home rentals to tenants who can't prove they are U.S. Citizens.

According to the Dallas Associated Press, the lawsuit was filed in federal court and seeks to prevent Farmers Branch from requiring renters from obtaining a license from the city. The license is used by city officials to verify a tenant's citizenship status through the federal government.

In the report, the lawsuit, which was brought by a "group of apartment complex operators and a former Farmers Branch council member" stipulates that,

"the city is trying to regulate immigration despite it being the domain of the federal government. They also claim the ordinance fails to include clear, detailed procedures and safeguards and places a burden and liability on landlords."

Those bringing the lawsuit also say "the city is violating federal housing laws by trying to deny a dwelling to a person based on ethnicity and national origin". And that the ordinance "is part of a bigger attempt by Farmers Branch officials to push out Hispanic residents."

Read the full article: Opponents sue to stop Texas city's immigration law

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