AP: Texas Attorney Fights Illegal Immigration Rules

February 8, 2009 – The Associated Press reports on attorney William “Bill” Brewer’s successful work representing landlords in Farmers Branch, Texas, fighting the city’s efforts to prevent illegal immigrants from renting apartments and houses.  

In November 2006, the Farmers Branch City Council passed a city ordinance requiring landlords to check the immigration status of renters.  

“What they’re doing in Farmers Branch is highly illegal, inappropriate and unconstitutional,” said Brewer. 

The article described Brewer’s dedication to civil rights work and advocacy on behalf of the Latino population. 

“Generating an antagonism between Anglos and Hispanics is not the way to go,” Brewer said. “This is a state, if it’s not already, will soon be, a state where the majority of the people in our community ... are of Hispanic origin.”   

Brewer also described the advocacy of Bickel & Brewer Storefront (now Brewer Storefront), offering pro-bono services.  

“The goal here was to do something a little different and it was – and is – to bring the resources that are available to our corporate clients to community impact cases.” 

Speaking further on the growth of the Hispanic population in Texas, Brewer said that “The most important time in the history of Texas is right now in how we handle this shifting demographic. And it is an opportunity, it’s not bad, it’s all good.”  

Read more here. 

AP: Judge Rules Texas Town’s Illegal Immigrant Apartment Rental Ban Unconstitutional

May 28, 2008 – The Associated Press reports that U.S. District Judge Sam Lindsay found that a rental ordinance passed by city leaders in Farmers Branch, Texas, was unconstitutional and only the federal government can regulate immigration.  

The ordinance would have barred apartment rental to illegal immigrants and required landlords to verify legal status. 

Attorney William “Bill” Brewer, who represented apartment complex operators who opposed the rule, celebrated the victory. Lindsay found that the city did not defer to the federal government on the matter and violated the supremacy clause of the U.S. Constitution.  

“It’s a good day, not just for my clients,” Brewer said. “It’s a good day for people who are thinking clearly about what is the proper role of municipal governments in the immigration debate.”  

Read more here.