I am proud to have been part of the legal team that defeated Hazleton’s “Illegal Immigration Relief Act.”   The IIRA was an ill-advised, unconstitutional and unAmerican attempt to divide a community along racial lines.  It would have made every person who looked, spoke or dressed “different”, regardless of their immigration status,  a target for institutionalized racism.

The IIRA had nothing to do with crime prevention or the health and safety of Hazelton residents.  It was a cynical, shameful and nearly successful attempt of an ambitious politician to increase and exploit racial divisions for political gain – while sticking all residents of Hazleton with the bill.

Lozano v. Hazleton legal decision.