By Matt Sepic, KWMU
Clayton, Mo. – A St. Louis County judge heard arguments Thursday over two laws in the suburb of Valley Park that are meant to curb illegal immigration.
The measures prohibit employers and landlords from hiring or renting to illegal immigrants.
The Valley Park Board of Aldermen repealed those laws and passed new ones after Judge Barbara Wallace issued a temporary restraining order.
But attorney Kathy Wisniewski, who sued the city on behalf of several landlords, said it's still necessary for the judge to make a final ruling on the old laws.
"We believe that a ruling in this case will affect what Valley Park can do in the future, and will act as a limiting factor on anything they can do in the future, so it was worth going forward on these," Wisniewski said.
Lou Leonatti, an attorney for Valley Park, said the case should be dismissed because aldermen repealed the laws in question.
"The ordinances that are presently before the court have been repealed, so there's not a controversy before the court," Leonatti said. "The court should be looking at the new ordinances."
qA ruling is expected by next week. This is the first of many similar cases around the country to go to trial.