"Unfortunately, the City of Farmers Branch Doesn't Know When to Quit."

Just so happens we took this photo yesterday, during a stroll in Rawhide Park in Farmers Branch. On Friday, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Immigrants' Rights Project and the ACLU of Texas filed a complaint in Dallas federal court in...

By Robert Wilonsky

September 15, 2008

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Just so happens we took this photo yesterday, during a stroll in Rawhide Park in Farmers Branch.

On Friday, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Immigrants' Rights Project and the ACLU of Texas filed a complaint in Dallas federal court in which they allege, yet again, that Farmers Branch Ordinance 2952 violates the U.S. Constitution, as well as various federal and state statutes. As you surely know by now, Ordinance 2952 is the suburb's latest attempt to keep bar illegal immigrants from renting apartments in Farmers Branch. The federal suit was filed on the same day U.S. District Judge Jane Boyle issued a temporary restraining order that barred implementation of the ordinance, which Farmers Branch had hoped to implement over the weekend.

In a media release sent out today, MALDEF attorney Nina Perales says, "Unfortunately, the City of Farmers Branch doesn't know when to quit. Despite several rulings striking down predecessor Ordinances, Farmers Branch continues to try to regulate immigration by violating the rights of all renters in Farmers Branch." The new lawsuit can be read in its entirety here. --Robert Wilonsky

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