By Rachel Lippmann, St. Louis Public Radio
St. Louis, MO – The St. Louis Board of Aldermen has gone on record opposing any future state law that would require the city's police department to check the immigration status of a person even if they have not been charged with a crime. Missouri does not have a measure like this in place.
Alderman Craig Schmid calls his resolution a preemptive strike, saying some state lawmakers have discussed implementing the requirement.
"The city of St. Louis, obviously, is a city of immigrants, of people who've been here a long time, it's a very diverse city, but there's very much a chilling effect in many areas where people may be targeting because they may look as if they may or may not properly belong in the city of St. Louis," Schmid said.
Schmid's ward includes the area around Cherokee Street, which has a large Mexican population.
Opponents expressed an unwillingness to interfere in the ability of police officers to do their job.