Texas ? Residents cast ballots Saturday on whether to repeal or approve a ban on landlords renting apartments to most illegal immigrants in their Dallas suburb, the nation’s first municipality to put the matter to a vote.

The ban was being approved by a 3-to-1 margin as early votes were counted.

Since the City Council approved the ordinance in November, Farmers Branch has become the site of protests and angry confrontations.

“The thing that strikes me most about it is just the level of emotion, the level of frustration regarding the whole immigration issue,” said Cal Jillson, a political science professor at Southern Methodist University.

More than 90 local governments around the nation have proposed similar measures.