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- Melissa Townsend
In 2006 Hazleton Pennsylvania became the first town in the United States to pass local laws curbing undocumented immigration. The laws punished anyone renting a residence to or employing undocumented immigrants. A year after their passage, the ordinances were overturned by federal district court… But their impact lingers in Hazleton and surrounding towns. Many residents have staked out positions on both sides saying the laws are either right or wrong. But there are people whose feelings ride the line, in the middle – pulled by both sides. Angel Grant is one of them.
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Piece Description
In 2006 Hazleton Pennsylvania became the first town in the United States to pass local laws curbing undocumented immigration. The laws punished anyone renting a residence to or employing undocumented immigrants. A year after their passage, the ordinances were overturned by federal district court… But their impact lingers in Hazleton and surrounding towns. Many residents have staked out positions on both sides saying the laws are either right or wrong. But there are people whose feelings ride the line, in the middle – pulled by both sides. Angel Grant is one of them.
Broadcast History
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Transcript
Narrator: Angel is my mom's sister. She's just a few years older than me and we grew up together in a small town in northwest New Jersey. I looked up to her. She was creative and really kind to me.
We come from working class stock. The men in our family were farmers, coalminers and electricians. And the women were at home or working as bookkeepers in local companies.
Narrator: In the early 90's I moved to Chicago to be a teacher. And Angel moved to the outskirts of Hazleton with her first husband.
(sounds of car driving)
Narrator: His family lived in the area.
Angel: I'm just going to drive around here.
Narrator: On the phone one night she said something about how the town was being overrun by Hispanics. I was alarmed. That didn't sound like the Angel I knew. And I decided to head out there and find out what was going on.
Angel: Let's see local hot spot J...
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Timing and Cues
In 2006 Hazleton became the first mayor in the United States to pass local laws curbing undocumented immigration. The laws punished anyone renting a residence to or employing undocumented immigrants. A year after their passage, the ordinances were overturned by federal district court, but their impact lingers in Hazleton and surrounding towns.
Many residents have staked out positions on both sides saying Barletta's actions are either right or wrong. But there are people whose feelings ride the line, in the middle, pulled by both sides. Angel Grant is one of them. Independent Producer Melissa Townsend has the story.
