JURIST - Paper Chase: Dallas suburb alters anti-illegal immigration law after stay

[JURIST] The city council of Farmers Branch, Texas [official website] Monday unanimously approved revisions to a city ordinance requiring apartment renters to show proof of US residency and penalizing landlords who rent to illegal immigrants [JURIST news archive]. The original ordinance was set to take effect earlier this month, but a judge issued a temporary restraining order after the Dallas suburb was sued [JURIST reports] by civil rights organizations, property owners and residents. The revised ordinance [text, DOC] will not require minors and tenants who are 62 years of age and older to prove their immigration status, and will allow lease renewals if the renters are currently tenants, the head of household or spouse is in the US legally, and the family includes only the spouse, their minor children or parents.

Before taking effect, the revisions will be subjected to a May 12 vote by citizens of Farmers Branch, according to a petition submitted by opponents of the original ordinance. A spokesman for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund [advocacy website], a civil rights group suing the city, said the revisions do not change the overall effect of the anti-immigration measure. AP has more.

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