A pair of North Carolina towns are weighing whether to join dozens of cities across the country proposing to make English the official language.

Mint Hill, in Mecklenburg County, and Landis, a town in Rowan County, are reviewing making clear that English is the dominant language.

Mint Hill's proposal also would punish businesses that employ, rent to or provide goods and social services to illegal immigrants. A proposal in Landis would require that all written or spoken government business must be in English - even if it means people bring their own interpreter.

Municipalities across the country are moving at a time they feel Washington is doing too little to address illegal immigration.

Most cities are modeling their immigration ordinances after the one approved July 14 in Hazelton, Pa., which now faces a federal lawsuit. Hazelton's ordinance would fine landlords $1,000 a day and revoke business licenses among other things.

Last year, Mecklenburg and Gaston counties rejected proposals related to employment or providing social services because commissioners said immigration is a federal responsibility.

Landis Alderman James Furr said he drafted a proposal he hopes will make a statement after hearing a congressman say that nothing would be accomplished at the federal level.

"I rode down Cannon Boulevard and could only read half the signs that were up, and that's when I really started thinking about it," Furr said. "I've always had concerns as far as bilingualism in government."

The Landis board reviewed his proposal earlier this month. The town's attorney had legal concerns and is reviewing it, Furr said. He said he expects the board to approve the ordinance in September.

Furr doesn't believe his proposal is discriminatory.

"Racism is exclusion," he said. "This is welcoming you to our society."

Mint Hill's proposal states that "illegal immigration leads to higher crime rates, contributes to overcrowded classrooms and failing schools ... and destroys our neighborhoods."

Those who rent to undocumented immigrants would face a $1,000 fine.

Government officials use that kind of rhetoric to justify such ordinances, which are on the rise, said Christopher Patusky, executive director of the Fels Institute of Government at the University of Pennsylvania.

"It turns it into an ugly situation," said Patusky, who studies immigration trends.