Thread: Valley Park passes new immigration ordinance

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Valley Park passes new immigration ordinance
By Stephen Deere
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Tuesday, Sep. 26 2006

VALLEY PARK

City officials moved quickly after a judge barred them from enforcing an
ordinance targeting illegal immigrants: They wrote a new ordinance and wiped
the old one from the books.

Aldermen unanimously approved the new ordinance without debate Tuesday night.
On Monday, a judge temporarily barred the city from enforcing the old
ordinance, saying it had too many holes.

So the city crafted an eight-page ordinance to replace the previous, three-page
version. The new ordinance still penalizes businesses and landlords that hire
and rent to illegal immigrants. And it still proclaims that illegal immigration
leads to higher crime rates and diminishes the quality of life.

The new version, however, spells out more details.

The previous ordinance didn't say how city officials, business owners, or
landlords should determine if people are in the country legally. It didn't say
how investigations would be initiated. It didn't even define the term "illegal
alien."

All that changes under the new ordinance.

Mayor Jeffery Whitteaker said the changes should render moot the temporary
restraining order issued by St. Louis County Circuit Judge Barbara Wallace. And
he believes the city can start enforcing its new version immediately.

Opponents of the original ordinance who sued the city last week are not
convinced. Linda Martinez, an attorney who worked on the lawsuit, said she and
other lawyers were reviewing the new ordinance to determine how it would affect
the case and the restraining order.

The new version mirrors a revised ordinance passed in Hazleton, Pa., after that
city was sued for a law targeting illegal immigration. Officials in Hazleton
and Valley Park hope their new versions can withstand legal challenges.

State Rep. Dwight Scharnhorst, R-Valley Park, was one of three speaking in
favor of the decision at the meeting.

"I think we have reached a point where this issue has been ignored for so many
years that it's become a problem," he said. "Fortunately, there are people like
yourselves who are standing up and doing the right thing."

Dan Ward, a Valley Park resident who opposes the ordinance, said the board
needed to consider it more carefully.

"I think it would be a good idea at this point to adopt a look before you leap
attitude," he said. "To me it seems like the city government is trying to do
the federal government's job. This country was built by immigrants."

The changes to the Valley Park ordinance include:

Requiring all city agencies to enroll in the federal government's "Basic Pilot
Program." The program, administered by the Department of Homeland Security,
verifies a person's identity and legal status using government databases.

Stating that investigations of suspected illegal immigrants will begin only
after the city has received a complaint from "any official, business entity, or
resident" of the city. Complaints based solely on national origin, ethnicity or
race will be ignored.

Using a definition of "illegal alien" that matches federal law.

Placing responsibility for enforcing the law on the city's code officers.

After the old ordinance was passed in July, St. Louis County Police Department
officers who patrol Valley Park began trying to enforce it and were inquiring
about some renters' status. No one was charged, but at least three landlords
were warned that they were renting to illegal immigrants.

On Friday, attorneys from 11 legal organizations representing three landlords
and a fair housing agency sued the city, alleging that the ordinance caused
racial profiling, hurt businesses and promoted housing discrimination.

sdeere@post-dispatch.com 314-340-8116

http://www.ksdk.com/news/news_article.a ... yid=104375

Valley Park Approves New Immigration Ordinance
created: 9/26/2006 7:30:18 PM
updated: 9/27/2006 6:42:45 AM

By Cordell Whitlock

(KSDK) - One day after a St. Louis County judge stopped the City of Valley Park from enforcing its illegal immigration ordinance, the board of aldermen approved a new law.

When the judge issued the temporary restraining order Monday, she said it had too many legal loopholes. The mayor said the new law passed Tuesday night will stand up in court, opponents said no way.

The new ordinance -- which passed unanimously -- is based on the federal government's Basic Pilot Program. Businesses would still not be able to rent to illegal immigrants, but the city will handle enforcement.

A code enforcement officer will investigate complaints about undocumented immigrants. Those complaints cannot solely be based on race or ethnicity.

"The city will be doing the checking of the illegal residents by way of occupancy permits that we will be authorized to issue. So that will relive the landlords of some of the liability of (checking each individual)," said Valley Park Mayor Jeffrey Whitteaker.

The plaintiffs who filed a lawsuit against the previous ordinance say the new one will not stand up in court. Their attorney maintains local government has no jurisdiction when it comes to immigration.

"I think they're frustrated with the federal government for failing to act. But it's supposed to be the federal government that's taking action here, not Valley Park," said attorney Linda Martinez.

Everyone who spoke after the meeting approved the board of aldermen's decision.

"If you're an illegal immigrant, you're not paying taxes, you're using up our public funding (and) you're sending your kids to school for free," said resident Susan Brust.

Immigration activists said undocumented workers do pay taxes and contribute to the economy.

Attorneys plan on filing a challenge to Monday night's decision.

Whitteaker said a legal defense fund out of Colorado has agreed to take on the city's case.

Good for them! I hope this continues to every state throughout the country.

Kick A Valley Park!

http://publicbroadcasting.net/kwmu/news ... ectionID=1

Valley Park changes its immigration ordinance
Matt Sepic, KWMU

VALLEY PARK, MO (2006-09-27) The Valley Park Board of Aldermen held a special meeting Tuesday night and changed the town's ordinance meant to combat illegal immigration. The meeting came a day after a St. Louis County judge issued a temporary restraining order that blocks the law's enforcement.

The law prohibits businesses from hiring illegal immigrants and landlords from renting to them. That hasn't changed. What's new is that the ordinance now defines "illegal alien" in line with federal law, and also requires city officials to verify a suspected violator's immigration status with Homeland Security.

However, attorney Kathy Wisniewski-who sued Valley Park last week-says litigation will continue, adding "I don't think there is anything in our system of government that provides for local states and municipalities to do the jobs that are dedicated to the federal government."

Supporters of the ordinance say it and others around the country are necessary because the federal government is not doing its job.

The new ordinance also defines "illegal alien" in line with federal law and requires the city to verify a suspect's immigration status before enforcing the ordinance.

Despite the legal challenge, Valley Park Mayor Jeffery Whitteaker says Valley Park still has a role to play in combating illegal immigration.

"I think it's going to take the small communities, with the large, and the federal government to help curtail this problem," said Whitteaker.

"And if we only do it in this small area, that's a small accomplishment, and hopefully fellow communities will follow us."