Valley Park Board of Aldermen do not override controversial immigration ordinance

10:41 PM CDT on Monday, April 2, 2007

(KMOV) - The battle in Valley Park over illegal immigration is not over.



Monday, the board of alderman failed to override the mayor's decision to keep the city ordinances that are designed to keep illegals out of town.



Among accusations of racism and questions about spending money on court challenges, Valley Park's board of aldermen seemed poised to hand the mayor an override defeat and do away the issue of cracking down on illegal tenants and workers.


But when the votes were counted, the board fell one vote short of an override that would have tossed out the controversial laws.



Mayor Jeffrey Whitteaker insisted illegal immigrants are a problem in Valley Park, referring to the hit and run death last week of a St. Charles County student in Florida, allegedly by an illegal immigrant.




Court costs in fighting the challenges could run into six figures, while opponents claim the city may pay in other ways.


Those opposed to the new illegal immigrant laws, which fine landlords and employers who house or employ illegals, say they do plan to go ahead with a legal challenge to these new laws.



They won a court fight against two previous sets of laws, but that doesn't discourage the mayor.



He insists the illegal immigrant laws on the city's books now are bullet proof.

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