Towns having hard time enforcing anti-entrant laws

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

HAZLETON, Pa. — When it comes to illegal immigration, Mayor Lou Barletta has led the way, and towns and cities around the nation have followed him — some right into the courtroom.

Since last summer, when the Republican mayor began his high-profile campaign to rid this small northeastern Pennsylvania city of illegal immigrants, more than 100 other municipalities in 27 states have considered laws ranging from penalizing companies that employ illegal immigrants to making English the official language.

Opponents of the crackdowns have fought back, mounting a half-dozen legal challenges — all successful — in Hazleton and places like Valley Park, Mo., and Farmers Branch, Texas. None of those municipalities is enforcing its law.

In some of the cases, state and federal judges have blocked the laws. In the others, the towns themselves have backed down, unwilling or unable to mount expensive legal battles.