Immigration Showdown In Hazleton

(CBS)  Small-town, blue-collar Hazleton, Pa., is deep in the heart of the Pocono Mountains. Today, it's at the very center of America's debate over illegal immigration, CBS News national correspondent Byron Pitts reports.

"Illegal immigration is draining our city's budget, and therefore, as a mayor, I took an oath of office to protect and defend our citizens — and that's what we're going to do," says Hazleton Mayor Louis Barletta.

Barletta is defending the "Illegal Immigration Relief Act," passed by the City Council last summer in response to a sharp spike in crime attributed mostly to illegal immigrants. The city ordinance would fine landlords who rent to "illegals" or employers who hire them.

Demonstrators have decried the measure as both illegal and racist. Longtime residents say it has created tension in town. Some Latino families have moved out.

The matter is now before a federal judge in Scranton. The ACLU claims only the federal government can enact immigration law, while the city is arguing it has legal jurisdiction.

Whichever side wins, cities and towns across the country are watching. At least 30 municipalities have already passed a similar ordinance, and 70 more are considering one.

For now, all sides in Hazleton agree on one thing: When it comes to illegal immigration, one resident notes, "The truth of the matter is for years and years we have a system that is broke and it has to be fixed."

The trial could take two weeks.

[scrantonpa1]

rmonroe401 claims to be from Hazleton. I guess he or she is one of those elite people who don't like associating with the plain folks back home. Anyone who is really familiar with this part of the country, i.e. northeastern PA, knows that the people in this area are not racist or xenophobic. The great majority of our citizenry are from families of recent immigrants. Originally they came to work the coal mines, Irish, Welsh, Italians, Eastern Europeans. Now more recently asiatics, Chinese, Indians, some middle easterners, and yes latinos who we accept like all the others -- if they are legal and behave like decent people. This is so ironic, elitist carpetbaggers and protestors from the "big city" coming to preach to us about our anti-immigrant attitudes. I think that they might find that a real immigrant culture isn't that easy to push around.

[laurairby]

Any city/county/town in this country has a right to enforce established laws.
I cannot understand why anyone, other than anarchists, should oppose the use of the Rule of Law as one of the cornerstones of any civilized country. If people are in Hazelton, or any other town/city/county/state illegally, then that entity has a right to remove them, in fact by law they must stop the illegal action.
We have survived as a country by the Rule of Law. Now either obey the established law.......or change it, legally!

[olebd]

The ACLU should be fined for aiding and abeting criminals.

[frankbowers]

I am hard lpressed as to why any person in their sane mind would protest to the city of Hazeltown. The illegals have no rights and should not have the ACLU protecting them and ACLU then writting off the expense for their taxes. Next if they wish they can take care of the bast**ds & not make me.The illegal not the legal are draining our country just like a knife to the throat drains the life out of a living animal.They need to be shot when caught the second time in our country,no, if ands and buts.Jail is to good for them as that cost me even more.I am a christian I think but even a christian has to have some defense against any illegal thing or person.The best of good byes from Austin, TX and Frank Bowers

[mcjohn2]

Glad to see someone finally has the gonads to start squelching these leeches on the taxpayers.
High fives to Hazelton. We almost had the same type of ordinance here in central Folrida, but a couple "minority" city council members voted against it. I wonder why. For the life of me, I cannot understand why these bleeding heart dumbs**** types allow and encouage this crapola. I think everyone who supports having them in the U.S. should be required to take a family of illegals home with them. Let them live in your house, you feed them. Let them steal your jewelry, TV and money. Also they can *** in your front yard when the bathroom is occupied.
What part of ILLEGAL don't you understand ???

[rollingtats]

rmonroe401, the reason this country is like it is,is because of people like you. You are a complete moron. Good. now i feel much better.

[rollingtats]

First to all the people who say that this crackdown is racist, your wrong. Period. It is not against legal immigrants, its against the illegal people who we end up paying for out of our pockets, when we could be providing for our families. You want to call us redneck hicks, well its hard when your a blue collar worker and every penny you earn is precious. You must not worry about that much when you make 250,000 a year!!! Also for those who call us names,we send as warm welcome to visit us in the south, we would love for you to come down and call us rednecks down here....oh I forgot....250,000 a year salary...different strokes different folks!!!

[rollingtats]

First to all the people who say that this crackdown is racist, your wrong. Period. It is not against legal immigrants, its against the illegal people who we end up paying for out of our pockets, when we could be providing for our families. You want to call us redneck hicks, well its hard when your a blue collar worker and every penny you earn is precious. You must not worry about that much when you make 250,000 a year!!! Also for those who call us names,we send as warm welcome to visit us in the south, we would love for you to come down and call us rednecks down here....oh I forgot....250,000 a year salary...different strokes different folks!!!

[rmonroe401]

I am embarrassed to say my family is originally from Hazleton. Bunch of backward rednecks hicks. Its disgusting. Kind of people who would kick a homeless person for being in their way on the sidewalk. I hang my head in shame.

[figuy30]

the city of hazleton, pa. is correct. crack down on the thieves who call themselves employers, and landlords and make a real good example of them. it's about time somebody did something. up until now all we've been getting is all talk and no action. the brainless aclu should be shown the door and reminded which country this is and who the legal taxpaying citizens are. we might need to remind our elected representatives who the legal taxpaying citizens are as well.