SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) - Springfield city officials say they are relieved a lawsuit has been filed over a voter-approved ordinance that requires employers to use a federal program to check employees' immigration status.
A federal judge on Thursday issued a preliminary injunction prohibiting the city from enforcing the E-Verify ordinance approved by voters in February.
City Manager Greg Burris says he welcomed the lawsuit. He and other city leaders have said the ordinance is unenforceable and might be illegal. Burris says he's not sure what steps the city will take to defend the ordinance in court.
The ordinance was drafted by the Ozarks Minuteman. The group's spokesman, Jerry Wilson, says the city should fight in court to protect the ordinance because Springfield residents support it.
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Information from: Springfield News-Leader, http://www.news-leader.com