To
prevent local discrimination against immigrants, legislation should add
immigration and citizenship status to the grounds of prohibited discrimination
under fair housing laws and/or prohibit cities, counties, and landlords from
making inquiries into immigration status.
- California AB 976 was enacted in
October 2007 to block local ordinances that promote housing discrimination
against immigrant community members; the bill also prohibits landlords
from making inquiries about immigration status or requesting documentation
in most cases.
- In 2007, Texas's proposed HB 2676 would have prevented
any political subdivision from requiring landlords to turn away
prospective tenants solely on the basis of their immigration status and
would have prohibited landlords from inquiring into a tenant's immigration
status.
- In late May 2008, U.S.
District Judge Sam Lindsay struck down an ordinance passed by the city of Farmers Branch, Texas prohibiting landlords from
renting to undocumented immigrants, finding that the ordinance was
preempted by Federal law. See Villas at Parkside
Partners v. City of Farmers Branch.
