Nebraska: State Court Demurs On Immigration Restrictions

New York Times: The State Supreme Court said Friday that it would not weigh in on whether municipalities can enact immigration-related restrictions on where people can live or work. Judge Laurie Smith Camp of Federal District Court had asked the court to consider the legality of local restrictions as she hears a lawsuit challenging a Fremont city ordinance barring illegal immigrants from renting or working there. The high court said the request did not allege a violation of state law, so it would not take up the question. The ordinance was approved in June, but has not gone into effect. The American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund challenged the ordinance, saying it was discriminatory and violated state law. Cynthia Dixon, a fund lawyer, said the high court’s consideration of the restrictions could have brought the case to a “quicker conclusion,” but now the case will play out in federal court.