06-16 ORDINANCE 2006-16
ILLEGAL ALIEN IMMIGRATION RELIEF ACT ORDINANCE
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HAZLETONAS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. - TITLE
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "City of Hazleton Illegal Alien Immigration
Relief Act Ordinance. "
SECTION 2. - FINDINGS AND DECLARATION OF PURPOSE
The People of the City of Hazleton find and declare:
A. That illegal immigration leads to higher crime rates, contributes to overcrowded
classrooms and failing schools, subjects our hospitals to fiscal hardship and legal
residents to substandard quality of care, contributes to other burdens on public
services, increasing their cost and diminishing their availability to lawful
residents, and destroys our neighborhoods and diminishes our overall quality of
life.
B. That the City of Hazleton is authorized to abate public nuisances and empowered
and mandated by the People of Hazleton to abate the nuisance of illegal
immigration by diligently prohibiting the acts and policies that facilitate illegal
immigration and punishing the people and businesses that aid and abet illegal
aliens.
C. This ordinance seeks to secure to those lawfully present in the United States and
this City, whether or not they are Citizens of the United States, the right to live in
peace free of the threat of illegal alien crime, to enjoy the public services
provided by this city without being burdened by the cost of providing goods,
support and services to any whose presence in the United States is contrary to its
laws and to be free of the debilitating effects on their economic and social well
being imposed by the influx of illegal aliens to the fullest extent that these goals
can be achieved consistent with the Constitution and Laws of the United States
and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
SECTION 3. DEFINITIONS
Whenever used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
"City"means the City of Hazleton.
"Illegal Alien"means any person whose initial entry into the United States was illegal and
whose current status is also illegal as well as any person who, after entering legally, has failed
to leave the United States upon the expiration of his or her visa.
SECTION 4. BUSINESS PERMITS, CONTRACTS OR GRANTS
Any entity or any parent, affiliate, subsidiary or agent of any entity(other than a charity
recognized as exempt from federal income taxation under Sec. 501 of the Internal Revenue Code
of the United States and which has obtained and continues to have in force an exemption from
federal income taxation), that knowingly employs, retains, aids or abets illegal aliens or illegal
immigration into the United States, whether directly or by or through any agent, ruse, guise,
device or means, no matter how indirect, and even if the agent or entity might otherwise be
exempted from this section, or violates any provision of this Ordinance, shall from the date of the
violation or its discovery, whichever shall be later, be denied and barred from approval of a
business permit, renewal of a business permit, any city contract or grant as follows:
(1) For the first violation for a period offive years,
(2) For any subsequent violation,for a period of ten years.
A. "Aids or abets"includes, but is not limited to:
(i) hiring of illegal aliens,
(ii) providing, renting or leasing real property to illegal
aliens,
(iii) funding,providing goods and services to or aiding in the establishment or
continuation of any day labor center or other entity providing similar services,
unless the entity acts with due diligence to verify the legal work status of all
persons whom it employs,provides job assistance for or in any way assists or
facilitates in obtaining any employment.
B. Except as provided in C., any action or failure to act done within the boundaries of this
City that aids and abets illegal aliens or facilitates their avoiding detection and
apprehension anywhere in the United States, its territories or possessions violates this
Ordinance.
C. This Ordinance shall not be construed to prohibit rendering emergency medical care,
emergency assistance or legal assistance.
SECTION 5. RENTING TO ILLEGAL ALIENS
A. Illegal aliens are prohibited from leasing or renting property in the city. Any property
owner or renter/tenant/lessee in control of property, who knowingly allows an illegal
alien to use, rent or lease their property shall be in violation of this section.
B. Any person or entity that violates this Section shall be subject to a fine of$1,000.00.
C. A separate violation of this Section of this Ordinance shall be deemed to have been
committed on each day during or on which a violation occurs or continues.
SECTION 6. ENGLISH ONLY
A. The City of Hazleton declares that English is the official language of the City.
B. Unless explicitly mandated by the federal government, the state of Pennsylvania or the
City of Hazleton, all official city business,forms, documents, signage will be written in
English only.
SECTION 7. SEVERABILITY
If any part or provision of this Chapter is in conflict or inconsistent with applicable provisions of
federal or state statutes, or is otherwise held to be invalid or unenforceable by any court of
competent jurisdiction, such part or provision shall be suspended and superseded by such
applicable laws or regulations, and the remainder of this Chapter shall not be affected thereby.
Any Ordinances or parts of Ordinances inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this
Ordinance are hereby repealed.
ORDAINED by Council this day of September, 2006.
First Reading Second Reading Third Reading
Presented Presented Presented
Seconded Seconded Seconded
Gabos Gabos Gabos
Graham Graham Graham
Mundie Mundie Mundie
Mlles Nilles Nilles
Yannuzzi Yannuzzi Yannuzzi