Voters attempt to restrict illegal immigration

On Monday, voters in Fremont, Nebraska approved a restriction on hiring or renting property to illegal immigrants. This is the latest proposal in a series on new immigration laws in communities across the U.S.

Fox News reports that about 57 percent of voters in Fremont supported the proposal, according to unofficial results that still need to be verified by the election commissioner. Fremont is a town of about 25,000 people. Its Hispanic population has grown considerably in the past two decades, which is probably due to available jobs at the Fremont Beef and Hormel meatpacking plants. Residents in Fremont are worried that jobs are going to illegal immigrants, states Fox News. They worry that they could drain community resources. Those who support the bill claim that federal law enforcement on immigration is too lax, but opponents fear that this could open the door to discrimination. According to Fox News, Trevor McClurg said that the measure is fair because it's aimed at people who aren't legally in the United States. He says:

I don't think it's right to be able to rent to them or hire them. They shouldn't be here in the first place.

Clint Walraven said that the jobs should go to legal residents who are unemployed. He believes the ordinance would help fix that. He states:

It has nothing to do with being racist. "We all have to play by the same rules. ... If you want to stay here, get legal.

Rachel Fleming, another resident, stated that she voted against the measure, also noting that the U.S. is a nation of immigrants. The new measure requires that potential renters apply for a license to rent. The application process will force Fremont officials to verify that the tenants are in the country legally. If they are not found to be here legally, they will not be issued a license to rent. Also, the ordinance requires that businesses use the federal E-Verify database, ensuring that all employees are allowed to work. The ACLU of Nebraska, however, said that if the measure passed it would sue. Amy Miller, legal director of for the ACLU of Nebraska, said:

Our goal would be to bring an action to ensure that here is not even one day that the law can go into effect.