Appeals Court to Review Farmers Branch Housing Ordinance

In 2008 the Dallas suburb of Farmers Branch became the first municipality to pass an immigration enforcement law after the city council enacted a law that prohibited landlords from renting to illegal aliens. However, when the city’s ordinance was challenged in court last year, U.S. District Judge Jane Boyle ruled against the city saying that the ordinance is pre-empted by federal immigration law.

A federal appeals court is weighing a Dallas suburb’s bid to overturn the ruling that the city tried to impose unconstitutional restrictions on home rentals to illegal aliens. A three-judge panel from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is scheduled to hear arguments Tuesday.