5. News from the Courts:

DOJ sues Arizona colleges for employment discrimination

The Washington Times reports that the Justice Department has accused the Maricopa County Community College District in Phoenix, Arizona of illegally asking foreign nationals to show their green cards before being offered jobs.  The lawsuit alleges that the school district exhibited ‘a pattern of discrimination by imposing unnecessary and discriminatory hurdles to employment for work authorized non-citizens.’

The lawsuit identifies 247 non-citizens who were required to present additional work authorization documents while U.S. citizens were not required to do the same.  The lawsuit was filed with the Office of the Chief Administrative Hearing Officer within the Executive Office for Immigration Review and is seeking a penalty of $1,100 for each individual. 

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/sep/7/justice-sues-arizona-in-green-card-hurdles/

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Fremont, Nebraska law questioned in state court

KETV (Omaha, NE) reports that U.S. District Judge Laurie Smith Camp will ask the Nebraska Supreme Court to consider whether cities have power under the state’s law to restrict who can rent property or be employed for work.  If the high court can answer that, the judge said she will answer questions brought forth in lawsuits against Fremont’s immigration ordinance by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Mexican American Legal Defense & Educational Fund. 

http://www.ketv.com/r/24924143/detail.html

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Appeals court stops Pennsylvania city’s immigration law

The Associated Press reports that a federal appeals court has upheld a ruling that Hazelton, PA may not enforce regulations against illegally present immigrants. These provisions included denying business permits to companies that employed legally present immigrants, fining landlords who rented to them, and requiring tenants to register for a rental permit.  The lawsuit was brought by immigrant advocacy groups and claimed that the proposed measures interfered with the federal government’s power to regulate immigration. 

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hkWhluTKRQkgDRIl8zJOqQQSeo-gD9I4FDDG5

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