Second Dallas Suburb Looks at Immigration Controls

LEWISVILLE, Texas (AP) _ Another Dallas area city may soon be grappling with the issue of immigration.

The Dallas Morning News reports the Lewisville City Council next month will discuss requiring city contractors to ensure that their employees are working legally in the country.

John Gorena is an opponent of illegal immigration who narrowly won a seat on the council last year. He wants the city to expand its use of E-Verify, a federally maintained electronic database system used by the government for large contracts. His proposal is modeled after a program in Mission Viejo, Calif., which became one of the first in the nation to require contractors to check the immigration status of their workers with the government verification system.

The proposal has received a lukewarm reception from other council members.

The Dallas suburb of Farmers Branch has been trying to oust illegal immigrants through a series of ordinances and is involved in costly litigation over an ordinance banning illegal immigrants from renting apartments.

Lewisville is about 24 miles northwest of Dallas.

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