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Pa. City Defends Illegal Immigrant Rules
One of the first witnesses testified that the law inspired a "wave of hate" in a city where Latinos and non-Latinos previously got along.
Dr. Agapito Lopez, 63, a retired ophthalmologist and Hispanic leader in Hazleton, testified that he received hate mail and his neighbors were no longer friendly toward him.
  Amilcar Arroyo, of El Mensejero, Cesar Perales, president of the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund and John Garcia, communications director of PRLDEF talk in Hazleton, Pa., Sunday afternoon, March 11, 2007. A trial opening Monday pits Mayor Lou Barletta, who says illegal immigrants are destroying the quality of life in this small northeastern Pennsylvania city, against the ACLU and Hispanic groups who contend that the laws are unconstitutional. (AP Photo/Hazleton Standard-Speaker, Eric Conover) (Eric Conover - AP) 
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The judge barred enforcement of the law pending the outcome of the non-jury trial, which is expected to last two weeks.
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Associated Press Writer Cheryl Wittenauer in St. Louis contributed to this report.
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On the Net:
Hazleton: http:/
Hazleton legal defense: http:/
Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund: http:/
Pennsylvania ACLU: http:/
