Proposal targets illegal immigrants

Civil rights and antidiscrimination groups are closely watching the progress of a Weymouth resident's proposal for a local law that would require business owners and landlords to provide proof they don't hire or rent rooms to illegal immigrants.

Richard Connolly , a former member of the School Committee, submitted the proposed ordinance to the Weymouth Town Council last month. It needs a single councilor's sponsorship at tomorrow night's Town Council meeting to proceed to the Ordinance Committee for review and a recommendation.

Connolly asserts his ordinance promotes "respect for the law" by creating public awareness of lawbreakers who hire or rent to illegal immigrants. Illegal immigration, he said, "corrupts our society by creating a culture of self-righteous contempt for our laws and values."

Civil rights and immigration groups are hoping the proposal dies a quick death.

"I see this as a really bad idea," said Sarah Wunsch , spokeswoman for the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts . "Immigration law is extremely complicated. I don't know whether a citizens committee will understand it. What happens is people here even lawfully may be denied jobs. It is a form of vigilantism. The town, it seems to me, shouldn't be involved in this."

Such local ordinances have been popping up in communities across the country over the past year, and are quickly challenged by groups such as the ACLU. According to the ACLU, 86 communities in 27 states have proposed similar ordinances . Of those, 26 have been enacted, but a large number are being blocked from going into effect by court injunctions. Weymouth's, if approved, would be the first in Massachusetts.

Under Connolly's proposal, a volunteer panel of citizens would be appointed to "invite" landlords and business owners to register with a town anti-illegals program. Registrants would be given decals with American flags to display on their properties, emblazoned with the words "All American and Legal Workers Only" or "All American and Legal Renters Only." Those who register would be listed on the town's website. Those who don't would also be listed.

The volunteer committee would be able to investigate anyone it believed had an illegal worker or tenant, using such documentation as digital photos or videos. There would be no fines for violators. Compliance would result from "peer pressure." The ordinance would also provide a mechanism to report suspected violators to state and federal authorities. Connolly originally included a paragraph allowing the citizens panel to boycott businesses believed to be in violation, but said he plans to submit a revised version without that language for tomorrow's meeting.

Town Council president Michael Smart said councilors are reviewing the proposal. It's not the first such ordinance to be proposed in Weymouth; another resident submitted a similar proposal about 18 months ago. "No action was taken at the time," Smart said.

Connolly teamed up with that earlier proponent and submitted a revised proposal last fall. That was abandoned for the current package, submitted solely by Connolly.

"I don't feel there is a huge problem in town with illegal immigrants," Smart said. "And I'm concerned about a volunteer organization going around and doing things like identifying people based on their ethnicity or color of their skin."

Connolly said a personal experience prompted him to become involved. "I hired a contractor to cut down some trees at my house, and he had illegal immigrants doing the work," he said. "I was deeply upset by it." Asked how he knew they were illegal immigrants, he said: "They couldn't communicate in English. That was the conclusion I came to."

The Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition says it is afraid of that very behavior, and plans to closely watch what happens in Weymouth.

"How does one determine if somebody is an illegal or undocumented immigrant?" asked the coalition's executive director, Ali Noorani .

"I don't think the town of Weymouth is in the business of discriminating against local residents, and this ordinance could lead to that," Noorani said. "If you sound like an immigrant in Weymouth, this ordinance will put you under a great deal of public scrutiny."

Connolly said he believes such scrutiny is necessary.

"A law-abiding citizenry is what's needed," he said. "All we are asking is respect for our laws."

Councilor-at-Large Michael Molisse said he has received a number of e-mails supporting Connolly's proposal, but believes they have been sent by outsiders, not residents. He said he does not recognize their names.

"I think law-enforcement agencies should be handling this, not a citizens group," Molisse said. "Weymouth is a beautiful community. Something like this is overboard, and it would be devastating to the town."

The Town Council meets at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow in Town Hall.

Christine Wallgren can be reached at clwallgren@aol.com.