Farmers Branch

May 13, 2007

The nation’s first vote on an ordinance targeting illegal immigrants by barring them from renting apartments highlighted a resentment of the federal government’s failure to secure the nation’s borders â€“ and a desire to do something about it at the local level saw this Texas town do something that just might catch on across the rest of Texas and America.

Farmers Branch voters’ overwhelming embrace of a law to drive out illegal immigrants â€“ which backers celebrated Saturday as “nothing but positive” â€“ may lead to similar measures across North Texas and the nation, analysts say. City Council member Tim O’Hare, who was the driving force behind the ordinance. O’Hare’s message that illegal immigrants are having a negative impact on neighborhoods, crime, property values and schools may soon be heard in other cities.

“I’d be shocked if I didn’t see other cities follow suit,” he said. “I’ve been contacted by representatives from other cities. Any city that wants to protect their town, give me a call, and let us work together.”

Matthew Wilson, a political science professor at Southern Methodist University, said the implications of the Farmers Branch election may be felt more in cities elsewhere. “Farmers Branch is a closed-in suburb of a major American city,” Mr. Wilson said. “This is not some sort of remote, rural outpost. Farmers Branch is a pretty mainstream place, and if there is this level of anger about the immigration situation there, then what that suggests is there’s probably a lot more of this kind of anger around the country.”

We’ll know fairly soon because emotions as strong as immigration illicits is very contagious.

Written by Ernie · Filed Under Daily Commentary