U.S. Supreme Court Refuses Appeals of Municipal Ordinances Restricting Rentals

The U.S. Supreme Court today refused to hear the appeals of two municipalities–Hazleton, PA and Farmers Branch, TX–who had passed ordinances trying to prohibit landlords from renting to undocumented immigrants. Despite having the legislation struck down by courts at every level, the Farmers Branch city council incurred more than $6 million in legal fees by continuing to press its appeal. Today’s decision affirms the Supreme Court’s 2012 decision in U.S v. Arizona in which the Court stated clearly that regulation of immigration is a federal matter, not a local one. Today’s decision is yet another blow for Kris Kobach, the attorney and primary drafter of most of the local/state legislation attempting to regulate immigration, almost all of which have been found unconstitutional.