ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT FIX SOUGHT PALMDALE WEIGHS TIGHTER BUSINESS LICENSING.

Byline: JIM SKEEN Staff Writer

PALMDALE -- Looking to address the hot button issue of illegal immigration without dragging the city into a legal quagmire, Palmdale officials are considering such options as tighter business licensing enforcement and provisions for U.S. citizen-only municipal contracts.

Palmdale officials said they are in the early stages of determining what options they might have to address the issue. Palmdale officials said they want to come up with something unique to the city's issues and something that will stand up to legal challenges.

``We are looking at what others are doing and what we can do,'' said Mayor Jim Ledford. ``We're going to step out in a very careful, deliberate fashion.''

Ledford suggested consideration of a ban on city contracts, grants, or other municipal assistance to companies that hire illegal immigrants.

``I want to look at who we contract with and who we assist with financing,'' Ledford said. ``Is there a way to hold them to a higher standard?''

Councilman Steve Hofbauer suggested a stricter enforcement on the granting of business licenses, not only addressing illegal immigration but to also make sure all laws and standards are being enforced.

Councilman Steve Knight said he wants to use enforcement of existing ordinances to address the issue.

``I don't want to attack this as an illegal immigration issue,'' Knight said. ``I think we have enough ordinances on the books.''

There are about 50 ordinances either enacted or being considered by cities and counties across the country trying to address the illegal immigration issue. Some of the ordinances involve prohibitions against hiring illegals or renting them housing and others are aimed at regulating day laborers.

Many of those ordinances are being challenged in court. Arguments raised against such ordinances include the fact that much of the activities in regards to the issue are covered by federal law; that such ordinances can be divisive to a community; and that there will be an increase in costs for enforcement, said City Attorney Matt Ditzhazy.

``Any ordinance, no matter how artfully constructed, is going to be challenged in court,'' Ditzhazy said. ``If a city wants to do this, they have to look at a long-term strategy.''

Palmdale does have an ordinance on its books regulating day-laborer activity, but hasn't enforced it because of litigation involving similar ordinances in the cities of Glendale, Vista and Redondo Beach.

One of the most publicized anti-illegal immigration efforts is by the community of Hazelton in Pennsylvania that calls for fines on landlords who rent to illegal immigrants and for denying business permits to companies that give them jobs. That ordinance calls for tenants to register with the city and to pay a rental permit.

A federal judge on Tuesday issued a temporary restraining order blocking the enforcement of that ordinance, stating that landlords, tenants and businesses that cater to Hispanics faced ``irreparable harm'' from the laws.

State Sen. George Runner, R-Lancaster, and Assemblywoman Sharon Runner, R-Lancaster, sent a letter out to cities in their districts urging them to look at what actions they can take to address the problem. In their letter, the Runners did not suggest specific actions, but rather that the communities look for ``innovative solutions.''

``It's an embarrassment to have to write a letter asking them to do things the federal government and the state should be doing,'' George Runner said.

james.skeen(at)dailynews

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