Get out of town: cities vs. immigrants.

• Author: Weigel, David
• Position: Citings - Brief article

Avon PARK, Florida, Mayor Tom Macklin has an unusual scheme for economic growth: Kick people out.

He got the idea from talk radio, where another mayor--Lou Barletta of Hazleton, Pennsylvania--was talking about his crackdown on landlords who rent homes to illegal immigrants. Thus inspired, the chief executive of this modest central Florida burg (population around 8,800) proposed the Illegal Immigration Relief Act, which would deny permits to businesses that employ migrant workers. The ordinance, which would also make English the official language of the city, states that illegal immigration "destroys our neighborhoods and diminishes our overall quality of life." It passed by a vote of three to two on first reading, with a final vote scheduled for July 24.

The backlash hit shortly after the first vote. In a city that relies on citrus and cattle agriculture for most of its economy, businesses couldn't afford to lose migrant workers. The Avon Park...