Farmers' Branch (Farmers Branch, Midway: rent, buy, landlords)

[txcollegeboy]

How is its immigration law being enforced?

[nativeDallasite]

Originally Posted by txcollegeboy

How is its immigration law being enforced?

To the best of my knowledge, it isn't being enforced at all; I thought it was tied up in court?

[txcollegeboy]

Yes, that what I thought, but I need to know if the appeals are working or what not. Oklahoma's law was approved, so I imagine this will make its way to the supreme court.

[love roses]

My dad lived there until just recently, and even though it's still having some problems with the new laws, it is working. At least, that's what he tells me and he attended every town hall meeting, etc...

[nativeDallasite]

Originally Posted by love roses

My dad lived there until just recently, and even though it's still having some problems with the new laws, it is working. At least, that's what he tells me and he attended every town hall meeting, etc...

Really? I live near Farmer's Branch and hit some of the stores there from time to time; there's a Best Buy on LBJ and Midway where English speakers are definitely in the minority. Haven't seen any shift in that demographic.

[txcollegeboy]

Why was Oklahoma's law approved, but not farmers' branch?

[love roses]

Yes, really. Maybe ya'll are just having different experiences.

[CallMeLaura]

Wasn't the law that landlords could not rent to you unless you could produce proof of citizenship or or other documentation showing you were legal to be in the US? If so, how would that have any impact on the languages spoken at retailers?

[nativeDallasite]

Originally Posted by CallMeLaura

Wasn't the law that landlords could not rent to you unless you could produce proof of citizenship or or other documentation showing you were legal to be in the US? If so, how would that have any impact on the languages spoken at retailers?

The vast majority of Farmer's Branch's illegals are Spanish-speaking (often unable to converse in English), so if illegals were fleeing FB I'd expect to see fewer Spanish-speakers around. That isn't the case. It isn't like they're just speaking Spanish with each other and speaking English to the employees...the employees are speaking Spanish to them because they can't speak English. It's just what I've observed.

[CallMeLaura]

Right, but are the vast majority of Spanish speaking people in Farmers Branch illegal?

I'd bet that even if all the illegal immigrants in Farmers Branch left, and none visited retail stores, you'd still have quite a few who spoke Spanish. And you don't know if those people *can't* speak English or just choose not to for that conversation. My mother in law converses in German with retailers, if they recognize she's fluent, and she's quite legal and speaks English.

I think you're making some serious over-generalizations, based on your prejudices. People are more comfortable speaking in their native tongue and will default to it when they can, regardless of their legal status in a particular country.