Also Online

12/11 6 p.m. Brad Watson reports

12/11 10 p.m. Bob Greene reports

More stories on Farmers Branch

FARMERS BRANCH - Residents pushing for a public vote on the Farmers Branch ordinance banning apartment owners from renting to illegal immigrants are meeting today with lawyers and community leaders.

Michael Gonzales, who is leading the group, said the purpose of the meeting is to discuss what he describes as "unconstitutional" elements of the edict.

"Only the federal government under federal law can enforce immigration issues," he said in a statement.

"This ordinance will cost the hard-working people of Farmers Branch a significant amount of money to defend and in the final analysis will waste taxpayers dollars," he said.

"We understand the consternation of certain citizens but it should be addressed to the president and congress who clearly bear the legal responsibility."

The group will meet with representatives from the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund.

They say other organizations supporting their cause include the Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Bickel & Brewer and the Hispanic Women's Real Estate Council.

Gonzales, who is former chair of the Hispanic Task Force for the Apartment Association of Greater Dallas, is one of the organizers of the "Let the Voters Decide" petition.

If they get more than 726 signatures of registered voters - validated by the city secretary's office - they would force the council to repeal the ordinance or let the voters decide, the city attorney Matthew Boyle has said.

Gonzales was due to turn in the petition on Monday at a council meeting but decided instead to submit it Wednesday.

Supporters of the ordinance say there is no reason for the council to reconsider their decision as they say thousands of residents supported the rental ordinance.