(May 15, 2007)--Latino and civil liberties activists asked a federal judge Tuesday in Dallas to block a suburb's voter-approved ban on the renting of apartments to most illegal immigrants.

By a two-to-one margin, Farmers Branch voters became the first in the nation Saturday to prohibit landlords from renting apartments to most illegal immigrants.

The request came from the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund and the American Civil Liberties Union.

They had already sued Farmers Branch over a previous city regulation and then the ordinance.

Now, MALDEF and the ACL-U are asking for a temporary restraining order to block implementation of the ordinance.

The ordinance is scheduled to take effect next Tuesday.

It requires apartment managers to verify that renters are US citizens or legal immigrants, with some exceptions, before leasing to them.

Violators would face a misdemeanor charge punishable by a fine of up to $500.

The ban's chief proponent, Councilman Tim O'Hare, contends the town's economy and quality of life will improve if illegal immigrants are kept out.

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