Midwest Town On Cutting Edge Of Crackdown On Illegals

Voters in Fremont, Neb., have passed a citywide referendum making it a violation of local law to rent to or hire illegal aliens, and a Kansas City lawyer who helped write the ordinance says they are on the cutting edge of a growing effort to crack down on violations of the U.S. border.

"There's no question that a growing number of states and cities are trying to take steps to discourage illegal immigration," he told WND today. "The main reason for this is that when our immigration laws go unenforced, the fiscal burden falls directly at the state and local level, not at the federal level."

Fremont voters, a few miles outside of Omaha, already have had their ordinance challenged, but Kobach said he helped win a 7-0 decision before the Nebraska Supreme Court allowing residents to vote on the plan.

"The immense cost of illegal immigration to local voters is the driving reason behind the actions that cities and states are taking," he said.

And there's a national "mood" regarding the federal government's present level of activity.

"Given the extremely high level of support for Arizona's law both in Arizona and around the country as demonstrated by polls, and given the exact expression of popular support by the voters there, it's clear that the people of America want ourimmigration laws enforced," Kobach said.

"The people are not interested in amnesty and they are tired of an administration in Washington that is scaling back at enforcement and the people want to see the rule of law returned," Kobach said.

"I would add that the Obama administration's numerous efforts to reduce enforcement of immigration laws, including scaling back work site enforcement, come at the worst possible time," Kobach said.

He said Americans still are hurting from unemployment, and they want their own government to "defend the interests of the workers."

Instead, Kobach said, "The Obama administration is leaving them undefended."

Kobach adds that the law was made a referendum because the city council and mayor voted against it.

"The vote on the Fremont city council was 4-4 and the mayor cast the deciding vote against it," Kobach said.

"The city attorney sought a declaratory judgment at the Nebraska Supreme Court to stop the petition until the courts had determined its legal validity. I represented the people who petitioned for it and we contested the city attorney's move in the courts and we went all the way to the NebraskaSupreme Court. The Supreme Court said the issue has to go to a popular vote," Kobach explained.

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