Next Tuesday's Fremont City Council meeting will be held in the auditorium of Fremont High School. That's when members of the community will hear from both sides on a proposal preventing illegal immigrants from renting in the community.

Guidelines have also been set for how the meeting will be conducted. Speakers will only be allowed three minutes to talk. Applause, jeering, profanity and raised voices will not be allowed.

City Councilman Bob Warner, who proposed the ordinance, would also like to see a ban on the hiring of undocumented workers. A final vote is scheduled for August 26th.

Fremont wants to require would-be renters to prove they're not illegal immigrants. The proposal passed the first of three City Council readings on July 8th.

Proponents say they are just enforcing federal laws. Those against the proposal call it racist.

Sylvia Sanchez is comfortable in her Fremont home, but is afraid of what could happen if a proposed ordinance aimed at undocumented immigrants passes. “Being part of the Latino race, the Hispanic race, I know I'm going to be targeted."

The current draft of the proposed ordinance would make it illegal for a landlord to knowingly rent to an undocumented immigrant. All potential occupants of a rental unit would be required to get a $5 occupancy license from the city. To get that license, an occupant would need to prove citizenship or legal residency of the United States. Violators could be fined up to $500.

Sanchez believes the ordinance will divide the community. "United we stand and divided we fall and I believe that's what's going to happen in Fremont, Nebraska if this somehow in some way passes."