While there is no doubt that this country’s porous borders pose a significant threat to the security and long-term viability of this nation, one must be careful not to allow this concern to cloud our decision-making. Such is the case with a Metro-Atlanta county government.

Last night, the Cherokee County Commission voted unanimously to require landlords to verify citizenship and residency status for all tenants. Most liberals decry the move as racial profiling or discriminatory, the typical liberal rallying cry, while conservative hail the move as entirely necessary considering the failure of the federal government to enforce existing laws. While the intent is certainly justified, has it occurred to anyone that this new government mandate imposed on landlords is yet another unnecessary government intrusion on private business. Landlords are not private investigators nor are they a branch of law enforcement and as such they should not be required to perform such tasks.

This will add needless expense to local business owners in the normal conduct of their business, an expense the county should absorb, or perhaps give landowners a subsequent tax reduction for doing the job of government. In addition to the obvious intrusive imposed on private business, this move is also a personal intrusion for tenants. But then again what do we know...
www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/cherokee/stories/2006/12/05/1205cheroimmig.html