Valley Park's immigration law upheld

Valley Park's immigration law upheld - STLtoday.com

ASSOCIATED PRESS
06/05/2009

ST. LOUIS -- A federal appeals panel has upheld Valley Park's ordinance prohibiting employment of illegal immigrants, a case that could have national implications.

A three-judge panel of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday unanimously affirmed a lower court's ruling in favor of the city of Valley Park.

The town of 6,500 residents has been involved in court battles since passing the immigration law in 2006. A St. Louis County judge struck down the original ordinance as well as a revised one.

Then, in 2007, the city revised the law again, this time to repeal a provision prohibiting renting to illegal aliens, but keeping the provision prohibiting hiring them.

The suit was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union, which did not return phone messages seeking comment.