New suit over illegal immigrant laws


03/16/2007

VALLEY PARK — The city's anti-illegal immigration ordinances violate the U.S. Constitution and the federal Fair Housing Act, claims a new lawsuit filed against the city this week.

The suit, filed in St. Louis County, follows a circuit court judge's ruling that Valley Park's early attempts at enacting ordinances to penalize landlords and businesses that rent to and hire illegal aliens clash with state law.

The city enacted its first ordinance targeting illegal immigrants in July and passed a revised version in September.

The new suit was filed Wednesday by the American Civil Liberties Union of Eastern Missouri on behalf of a landlord. It addresses the city's newest ordinances targeting illegal immigrants. City leaders had hoped the latest attempts at drafting anti-illegal immigrant laws would be more likely to survive legal challenges.

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