Jan 19, 2007 6:26 pm US/Central
Farmers Branch Reworking Immigration Ordinance
FARMERS BRANCH (CBS 11 News) ―
A controversial Farmers Branch city ordinance is getting a makeover. The city has reworked part of the new law that cracks down on illegal immigrants living and working in the city.
The amended version will be available to the public after 6 p.m. Friday and discussed in detail at Monday's council meeting.
City leaders in Farmers Branch are on the brink of change - rethinking their strategy on illegal immigration reform. It's a move some consider victorious.
"This is a huge victory for the City of Farmers Branch and the entire community and I would even venture to say for the country," said Elizabeth Villafranca, Uniting Farmers Branch.
A revised proposal is in the works and it could shut down the controversial ordinance that, in part, would ban apartment owners from renting to illegal immigrants.
It's unclear if the proposed legislation will even focus on illegal immigrants, but officials say the new course of action will go on the May ballot and be turned over to voters.
Farmers Branch City's Spokesperson Tom Bryson told CBS 11 News, "The city of Farmers Branch has decided to direct the City Attorney to prepare an ordinance. Nothing has been passed or appealed at this point."
Farmers Branch city council members are scheduled to review the ordinance Monday and we're told the public will have a chance to weigh in at City Hall.
Officials won't say what prompted the change; some who opposed the original ordinance believe the four lawsuits filed against the city may have induced pressure.
"The lawsuits are piling up; these are a lot of money, huge dollar lawsuits, and they are gonna loose and they know it," Villafranca said.
When asked about the decision to rework the ordinance Bryson told CBS 11 News, "That would really get into council deliberations and not something I'm really in a position to speculate on. I really think the important thing is that they are going to have consideration on Monday and the public will have an opportunity to comment on it."
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