US Judge Blocks Key Parts of Arizona Immigration Law
VOA News
28 July 2010
A U.S. judge has blocked the most controversial provisions of a new immigration law in the southwestern state of Arizona, one day before the measure was to go into effect.
The federal judge Wednesday blocked the part of the law that required police to check the immigration status of any person they stop for a violation and suspect is in the country illegally.
Judge Susan Bolton also put on hold a provision requiring immigrants to carry documentation at all times, and a measure that made it illegal for undocumented immigrants to seek work in public places.
Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signed the law in April. She called Wednesday's ruling a "bump in the road" and said Arizona officials will continue to meet with their lawyers on the issue.
The Justice Department, meanwhile, hailed the decision, saying the court "ruled correctly."
Justice Department spokeswoman Hannah August released a statement saying such state and local policies would "seriously disrupt" federal immigration enforcement and ultimately be "counterproductive."
Other opponents of the law say it could lead to racial profiling by police.
But Governor Brewer argues the federal government is not doing enough to secure Arizona's border with Mexico. She described the ruling as relief from the court for the feds not to do their job.
The ruling came in response to a legal challenge by the United States government. Washington argued that immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility and provisions in the law are pre-empted by federal law.
President Barack Obama has called the Arizona law "misguided."
Some illegal immigrants have left Arizona ahead of Thursday's scheduled implementation of the law, while businesses in Phoenix that cater to the mostly Hispanic immigrant population say huge drops in sales will force them to close.
Some legal immigrants in Arizona say they will also leave the state - either because their businesses are losing clients or because they no longer feel welcome.
The Arizona legislature passed the measure in hopes of stemming the flood of illegal immigrants from Mexico. Arizona officials say the influx has led to a spike in crime, including drug trafficking and kidnapping.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and AFP.
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