We've all heard disturbing stories of over-reaching, over-zealous government actions in the last decade or so. It is perhaps the first time in many, many generations that ordinary, law-abiding citizens have reason to fear their own government. Especially if you happen to help immigrants.
First, there was the story of Brandon Mayfield, an immigration lawyer in Portland, Oregon, whose life was turned upside down when he was arrested on terrorism charges by the FBI. Only he wasn't a terrorist. He was simply a hard-working immigration lawyer.
Now, the government has decided to indict and convict a landlord. That's right, a person who owns a building in which undocumented foreign-nationals happen to reside.
The American Immigration Lawyers Association reports as follows:
US District Court Rules in Favor of Kentucky Landlord
Cite as "AILA InfoNet Doc. No. 08070968 (posted Jul. 9, 2008)"
On 06/27/08, William Jerry Hadden, a Kentucky landlord who faced 62 charges in US District Court of renting apartments without verifying the immigration status of the future tenants, was found not guilty on all charges.
The trial is thought to be the first time the federal government has prosecuted a landlord for renting to undocumented immigrants, defense attorneys said in court filings.
Hadden's defense attorneys steadfastly maintained his innocence and claimed that the federal government was twisting the intent of harboring laws, which they say were intended to target human traffickers or employers who are trying to hide their work forces. They further noted that it is not illegal to rent to undocumented immigrants, and Hadden therefore had no legal obligation to check any tenant's immigration status.
The court agreed with the defense and ruled that there had to be evidence that the defendant intended to violate the immigration laws by concealing or hiding tenants.
Fortunately, our judiciary has said enough. But that doesn't stop the government from continuing to try to broaden its reach and punish those who help immigrants.
All of this begs the question, what in the world have we become? And, is it time for a change yet?
