A federal judge has blocked the city of Springfield from enforcing a voter-approved law requiring businesses to check employees’ immigration status using the federal E-Verify system. U.S. District Judge Richard Dorr issued a preliminary injunction on the so-called E-Verify ordinance. The ruling came about after three companies and a Springfield businessman filed suit alleging the ordinance is unconstitutional and a violation of state and federal laws. The ordinance was drafted by the Ozarks Minuteman and passed by voters in February. Several Springfield officials had said they were hoping for a court challenge because of questions about its legality and how to enforce it. Dorr said he was granting the preliminary injunction because the plaintiffs would probably succeed on the merits of their complaint.
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