Irvine, Texas Accused Of Trying To Run Immigrants Out Of Town

DALLAS (CN) - After the city of Farmers Branch passed an unconstitutional ordinance prohibiting people from renting to undocumented immigrants, immigrants fled to other cities, including Irving, Texas. Irving retaliated against a landlord who rented to the new arrivals by singling out SPT Apartments for repeated inspections, fining it $15,000, prohibiting it from collecting rent, and making it clear that "Plaintiff is one of a group of multi-family apartment complexes that are slated to be razed in the City of Irving's aggressive attempt to rid itself of working class minority immigrants," SPT claims in Dallas County Court.

SPT says it continuously upgrades and renovates its units each time renters move out, but the city retaliated by passing an ordinance prohibiting SPT from collecting rent during appeals of the "Irving Multi-Family Minimum Housing Code," and by "naming Plaintiff's president, Brian Schwartz, whenever it refers to its plan of redevelopment". STP seeks damages for trespass, violations of the Texas Constitution, $42,000 in lost rent, and an injunction. It is represented by Kelly Bryan. See complaint.

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