By Matt Sepic, KWMU
St. Louis, MO – A St. Louis County judge has blocked Valley Park's latest attempt at combating illegal immigration.
The ordinance requires the city to check the citizenship status of prospective renters before it issues occupancy permits.
But Judge Carolyn Whittington issued a temporary restraining order Thursday, saying the law usurps federal authority and promotes discrimination.
Last month, Valley Park's aldermen removed that citizenship language from the housing code. But this week two aldermen changed their minds, and voted not to override a mayoral veto, a move that kept the law on the books.
A group of landlords and immigrants' rights advocates immediately sued the city.
In the past, another judge had blocked two previous versions of Valley Park's immigration law.