Editorial: Pahrump: Immigration police

Thursday, Oct. 12, 2006 | 7:23 a.m.

In the little kingdom of Pahrump, things are going from bad to worse politically.

An apparent attempt by local leaders to stem the tide of immigration - how far is Pahrump from the Mexican border? - would make it illegal for a bank to do business with undocumented immigrants.

The proposed ordinance by Pahrump Town Board member Michael Miraglia would prohibit flying foreign flags alone and make English the official language of the town about an hour away from Las Vegas. And as a story in Wednesday's Las Vegas Sun by Timothy Pratt showed, it would also make it illegal for an undocumented worker to use a bank.

Bill Martin, president of Nevada State Bank, which has two branches in Pahrump, wondered, "How do I do business in Pahrump with an ordinance like this?"

Well, to start, he couldn't do business with anyone with foreign identification, such as the ID card issued by the Mexican Consulate in Las Vegas. And undocumented immigrants have bank accounts. There's no law against that, but there would be in Pahrump, and banks would become the immigration police.

This ordinance, which we have previously criticized for its "us-against-them" mentality, is embarrassing at best and idiotic at worst.

If the folks up north really believe this stuff, they should also build a moat and gates and check IDs at the door.

You would think they had more pressing things to do in Pahrump, but apparently not. Maybe the town leaders will handle Iraq next - as long as the Iraqis learn English first.