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Ending E.O. 13166,
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ProEnglish Defends Hazelton, PA's official English statute
Hazleton Pennsylvania, a city of 25,000
about 90 miles north of Philadelphia made national headlines this summer
after passing an ordinance to deter illegal immigrants that contained
a provision declaring English its official language. The city's action
triggered a wave of similar ordinances and inquiries from other cities
and towns that are experiencing similar influxes of non-English speaking
illegal immigrants. The ACLU promptly filed suit on behalf of several
Hispanic individuals and advocacy groups to block the city's action.
After learning about the case ProEnglish
contacted Hazleton's mayor, Lou Barletta, to offer its legal assistance.
The offer was accepted. Then acting on the advice of ProEnglish and other
legal advisors, the city rescinded its first ordinance and replaced it
with ones that dealt with illegal immigrants and official English as separate
issues.
The ACLU then re-filed its complaint challenging
the new ordinances and got US District Judge James M. Munley to issue
a temporary restraining order Oct. 31st barring the city from enforcing
the ordinances pending a trial.
ProEnglish Chairman Bob Park commended
the city and said ProEnglish was totally committed to helping Hazleton
defend its official English ordinance from legal attack. He singled out
Mayor Barletta for praise, "Mayor Barletta has emerged as an articulate
and courageous leader whose fierce determination to protect and care for
the welfare of the citizens of his hometown led him to take the actions
he did. Unfortunately, he has been subjected to the typical name-calling
and character assassination that our opponents use because they lack legitimate
arguments."
Park pointed out that ProEnglish has posted a
model official English ordinance on its website, www.proenglish.org, and
has helped a number of other municipalities around the country who are
interested in following Hazleton's example.
Click here for other ProEnglish
legal actions.
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