What I don't know about preemption by federal immigration laws would fill volumes. My guess is that the City Council overreached in some fashion and that the judge will find some narrow issue on which to overturn the ordinance. I base this guess on nothing other than my sense that local government types rarely get this sort of thing right on the first try.

I was sorry to hear about the strife in Hazleton. My folks are from Scranton, so I have driven through Hazleton about 3 million times. I have always loved that area. I spent a little bit of time in the area west of Hazleton, going toward State College. Some of the prettiest farm country you will ever see.