By Matt Sepic, KWMU
St. Louis, MO – Officials in the St. Louis suburb of Valley Park have upped the ante in the fight there over illegal immigration. The board of aldermen voted Tuesday night to begin enforcing a measure they passed earlier this month.
Among other things, it requires the city to verify the citizenship and immigration status of anyone wanting to lease rental property in Valley Park.
The aldermen had originally decided not to enforce the new law because a St. Louis County judge blocked enforcement of two similar measures passed last year. Judge Barbara Wallace might decide Thursday whether to put a permanent injunction on the laws.
While Valley Park actually repealed those previous measures, attorneys fighting the city say they still want a ruling, because they say the judge's decision could set a statewide - or even a nationwide precedent.