The New City council recently passed an ordinance revising the hiring criteria for public transportation workers. The criteria apply to those who operate and maintain public transportation equipment, but not to those on the City’s Public Transportation Board, which sets policy for the transit system. One criterion is that transportation employees be United States citizens. The council defended the citizenship requirement as serving the city’s interest in having workers of undivided loyalty.
Mark Sheehan, a permanent resident of the United States, sued New City on the constitutionality of the new ordinance. What is the likely outcome? Provide the rule(s) on point and your analysis.