FREMONT, Neb. (AP) - This small Nebraska meatpacking town has joinedArizona at the center of a national debate about illegal immigrationafter voters approved a ban on hiring or renting property to illegalimmigrants, but an expected court challenge could keep the measure fromever taking effect.

The American Civil Liberties Union already has promised to file alawsuit to block enforcement of the proposal roughly 57 percent ofFremont voters supported Monday.

"In a community of 25,000, it's going to be hard to take on the wholecountry, and it will be costly to do so," said Fremont City CouncilmanScott Getzschman, who opposed the measure but said city leaders wouldsupport the results.

Fremont's vote is the latest chapter in the tumult over illegalimmigration across the country, including a recently passed Arizona lawthat will require police investigating another incident or crime to askpeople about their immigration status if there's a "reasonablesuspicion" they are in the country illegally.

The Fremont measure will require would-be renters to apply for a licensefrom the city. Officials must refuse to issue a license to applicantsfound to be in the country illegally. The ordinance also requiresbusinesses to use the federal E-Verify database to ensure employees areallowed to work.

The city, which is about 35 miles northwest of Omaha, has watched as itsHispanic population surged in the past two decades, largely due to thejobs available at the nearby Fremont Beef and Hormel meatpacking plants.

Supporters argued the measure is needed to make up for what they see aslax federal law enforcement. Opponents said it could fueldiscrimination.