Official Name: "City of Hazleton Illegal Immigration Relief Act Ordinance" (Ordinance 2008-18)
Ordained: July 13th 2006

Please note that this article does not represent the views of me, the author, or of any staff or members of HazletonToday.com . It is simply a factual description of what the act is, a summarization of what it means, and any important dates or information pertaining to the act.

The City of Hazleton Illegal Immigration Relief Act's purpose is to relieve the city of many problems caused by Illegal Immigration. The ordinance was passed on July 13th 2006. The act aggressively pursues those who employ or rent to persons that are in the country illegally. The ordinance's purpose as stated in Section 2: Findings and Declaration of Purpose ...

"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 crime, to enjoy the public services provided by this city without being burdened by the cost of providing goods, support and services to aliens unlawfully present in the United States, 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."

There are many ways the ordinance attempts to achieve it's purpose. Some areas of this ordinance are simply restating existing laws. The act declares it illegal for any business to recruit, employ, or continue to employ any person who is an unlawful worker. The act defines an 'unlawful worker' as a person who does not have the legal right to work due to an impediment in any provision of federal, state, or local law, including but not limited to a minor disqualified from nonage or an 'unauthorized alien' as defined by United States Code Title 8, subsection 1324a(h)(3). Nonage refers to any age prior to the legal age. An 'unauthorized alien' as stated in the above code as an alien who is not at the time of working either an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence, or authorized to be so employed by the Attorney General. Complaints can be made by any city resident, business entity, or member of the Hazleton Code Enforcement Office. Within three business days the HCEO should request identification from the place of employment of the alleged unlawful worker. Full details of the enforcement of these policies can be viewed by clicking here to view the official full version of the ordinance.

As well as stricter policy toward the hiring of unlawful workers, the act also contains a section prohibiting the harboring of illegal aliens. The section says that to let, lease, or rent to an illegal alien constitutes harboring. This has been a short description of what the Illegal Immigration Relief Act is all about. Again, there are no opinions of HazletonToday.com, me, the author, or any members and staff of HazletonToday.com here. Strictly a factual summary and explanation of what the act is, and how it attempts to address the issue of illegal immigration. Below are are some sources, including a link to the actual ordinance itself. There is also a link below if you are interested in discussing this act, or illegal immigration in general.

Sources
-Official IIRL Ordinance
-