Escondido illegal immigrant housing law put on hold 3-4 months by federal judge
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Escondido’s illegal immigrant housing ordinance was handed a stinging rebuke yesterday when a federal judge barred the city from enforcing the law. U.S. District Judge John A. Houston issued a temporary restraining order against the ordinance, which would punish landlords for renting to illegal immigrants. It had been scheduled to go into effect today. The order freezes the law for 90 to 120 days, until a preliminary injunction hearing can be held. Houston strongly criticized the city, saying he had “serious concerns” about the law’s constitutionality, the harm it could cause tenants and landlords, and even the city’s ability to work with the federal government to verify someone’s status in the country. The judge also was critical of an “interpretation memo” signed Nov. 10 by City Manager Clay Phillips. The memo said for the first time that the ordinance would not apply to any illegal immigrant now living in the city. More : signonsandiego.com |