Thread: Immigration law still on hold in Valley Park

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/s ... enDocument

Immigration law still on hold in Valley Park
By William C. Lhotka
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
01/04/2007

A judge has set aside March 1 and 2 to hear testimony and arguments over the validity of the ordinance in Valley Park intended to combat illegal immigrants.

Pending the outcome of the case, St. Louis County Circuit Judge Barbara Wallace left in effect Wednesday her temporary order barring the city from enforcing the ordinance.

The original ordinance, enacted in July, declares English to be the official language of the city and says landlords could face a $500 fine for renting to illegal immigrants. And businesses that hire illegal immigrants could be denied business permits and city contracts.

The American Civil Liberties Union and other organizations have challenged the ordinance as unconstitutional. Attorneys for the groups say the local law is too vague, would promote racial profiling and housing discrimination and harm businesses. Advertisement

The case has bounced back and forth from Wallace's court to federal court. Besides setting the trial dates, Wallace approved a motion Wednesday allowing Kris Kobach, a professor at the University of Missouri at Kansas City Law School, to enter the case as an attorney for the city.

I really admire the Valley Park Attorney. He is one man going up against about 30 attorneys.

No wonder the legal fees get so high, so fast all the additional scavengers circling. Bunch of opinions designed to drive the bill up and scare of the lawful defendant.

Dixie