Local illegal immigration laws draw a diverse group of cities

By: DAVID FRIED - Staff Writer

ESCONDIDO ---- When a City Council majority voted last month to draft an ordinance banning illegal immigrants from renting in the city, Escondido joined a diverse bunch of 30 small towns and midsize cities around the country that have considered, and in some cases passed, similar local legislation.

There are industrial cities in the Northeast, rural towns that barely stand out on a map, and growing metropolitan suburbs in 13 states that have all looked at doing what Escondido has proposed, fining landlords for renting to undocumented immigrants.

Most of the towns and cities also want to prohibit business licenses for companies that hire undocumented workers, and make English the official language of local government.