Georgia County Passes Law Against Housing Illegal Immigrants

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New laws in Cherokee County Georgia against renting to illegals. This should be done everywhere.

Cherokee County to Target Landlords Who Rent to Illegals

Last Edited: Tuesday, 05 Dec 2006, 10:52 PM EST
Created: Tuesday, 05 Dec 2006, 8:47 PM EST

By GREG BLUESTEIN
Associated Press Writer

CANTON, Ga. (AP) -- Cherokee County officials unanimously approved a new crackdown on illegal immigrants Tuesday designed to force landlords to check the immigration status of their tenants.

Immigrant groups vowed to battle the plan in court and blasted the commission's decision to ban critics from speaking against the proposal during the 2-hour meeting.

The fast-growing north Georgia county's measure would suspend the business licenses of property owners who house illegals, barring them from collecting rent until they submit a sworn affidavit explaining how each violation has been corrected.

Those that don't comply when the measure takes effect Jan. 1, 2007 could be fined.

The vote capped a lengthy session in which commissioners also unanimously decided to make English the county's official language and agreed to join two federal programs designed to target illegals.

The Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials immediately pledged to launch a legal fight against the landlord measure and accused commissioners of "trampling immigrant rights."

"The county will have to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to defend it," said Jerry Gonzalez, the group's director.

Gonzalez and other critics who tried to speak against the measure before the vote were silenced by commissioners who said a public hearing on the matter was held two weeks ago.

"We have a pretty busy schedule tonight," said Commissioner Karen Mahurin. "We have rules to this meeting and I'd like for them to be upheld."

The county elders spent more time bickering about zoning regulations and development proposals than they did debating the immigration restrictions, which were passed after a few minutes of discussion. Residents seemed more concerned with a controversial housing plan also up for debate Tuesday as hundreds sought to attend a noisy zoning meeting that took place a few minutes after the immigration vote.

Commissioners said the landlord restrictions would reduce the strain on schools and other resources in Cherokee, a booming county about 30 miles north of Atlanta. They seemed unfazed by the likely legal battle that awaits.

"We have been advised by counsel that the risk is what I would call moderate," said Commissioner Harry B. Johnston. "I think the people of Cherokee would be willing to accept that."

Some 7.6 percent of Cherokee's residents are Hispanic or Latino, according to 2004 U.S. Census data. But Commissioner Derek Good said the number of illegals is much higher and contended that 22 percent of the inmates in the county jail came to the country illegally.

Cherokee's move is an example of a local government taking its own step to handle immigration issues. Georgia earlier this year approved a wide-ranging crackdown on illegal immigrants, and cities in Texas, California and Pennsylvania have enacted laws to punish landlords who rent to illegal immigrants.

English is now the official language of Taneytown, a Maryland town of 5,000 and Pahrump, a fast-growing Nevada community 60 miles down a two-lane road from Las Vegas. Last month, voters approved a measure making English the official language of Arizona.