by VC, Nov. 1st, 2006

Federal Judge blocks Hazelton PA’s Illegal Immigration Relief Act.

Federal Judge, James Munley, of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania has barred the implantation of the law passed last June by the Hazelton, PA City Council designed to prevent illegal immigrants from living in Hazelton, PA.

The order will last until Nov. 14th, 06. Judge Munley’s 13 page opinion stated that he had not been convinced by the city council’s allegations that illegal immigration increases crime and depletes social services. He also stated that immigrants face irreparable injury if the law were to be enforced. The law was supposed to go into effect today, Nov. 1st, 06.

"Defendant offers only vague generalizations about the crime allegedly caused by illegal immigrants but has nothing concrete to back up these claims," said Munley.

Hazelton has about 10,000 residents from Central America and about 25% of them are estimated to be undocumented.

The Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund, the main plaintiffs in the case, argued that the law challenges constitutionally protected rights and that it is in the public interest to delay the measure’s enforcement until its constitutionality can be determined by the courts.