Tomball Council Passes on Immigration Measures

TOMBALL, Texas (AP) _ A Houston suburb has decided not to step into the fray over illegal immigration.

The Tomball City Council voted Tuesday night not to consider laws that would ban illegal immigrants from renting property or owning businesses or that would have made English its official language.

Council members discussed several controversial ordinance proposals Tuesday night that would have also prevented illegal immigrants from owning property or operating any business. Finally, they were dissuaded in part from pursuing a ban on renting to illegal immigrants based on the experience of Farmers Branch, a Dallas suburb that for years has been trying unsuccessfully to enforce a similar ordinance.

Council members also tabled a proposal that called for requiring any company awarded a city contract to not hire illegal immigrants.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

More News