A federal judge has blocked one of the most controversial sections of a tough Arizona immigration law, granting a preliminary injunction Wednesday that prevents police from questioning people about their immigration status.
That provision required police to "make a reasonable attempt to determine the immigration status of a person stopped, detained or arrested" if the officer has a reasonable suspicion that the person is in the United States illegally.
U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton's ruling, in response to a motion filed by the federal government, came with scant hours to go before the law goes into effect.
Read the full ruling (PDF) | What does ruling mean?
She also blocked provisions of the law making it a crime to fail to apply for or carry alien registration papers or "for an unauthorized alien to solicit, apply for, or perform work," and a provision "authorizing the warrantless arrest of a person" if there is reason to believe that person might be subject to deportation.
"We believe the court ruled correctly when it prevented key provisions of SB1070 from taking effect. While we understand the frustration of Arizonans with the broken immigration system, a patchwork of state and local policies would seriously disrupt federal immigration enforcement and would ultimately be counterproductive," the Department of Justice said in a statement. "States can and do play a role in cooperating with the federal government in its enforcement of the immigration laws, but they must do so within our constitutional framework.
"This administration takes its responsibility to secure our borders seriously and has dedicated unprecedented resources to that effort. We will continue to work toward smarter and more effective enforcement of our laws while pressing for a comprehensive approach that provides true security and strengthens accountability and responsibility in our immigration system at the national level."
Seven lawsuits are seeking to block implementation of the law, signed by Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer in April. It is to go into effect Thursday.
Watch: Gov. Brewer reacts to preliminary injunction
The law also targets those who hire illegal immigrant laborers or knowingly transport them.
Opponents say the law will lead to racial profiling, which is illegal.
Supporters point out that the law prohibits racial profiling and people cannot be stopped and asked for proof of legal residence based solely on their looks.
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For the people who think this country was built by legal immigrants. please.... bringing african people against thier will I guess was legal at the time.
Load up on the ammo. Then they'll start listening to us.
Billg load all you want papa. they have bigger guns and nuts
I was under the impression that "we the people" decided what the law is NOT the "rich"....
im a 16 year old mexican american i agree with the arizona law! most of the illegals come here and just suck from the government commit crimes and make the rest of the LEGAL mexicans look bad!
Judges who legislate from the bench are very, very dangerous to a Republic. This law was enacted by the lawmakers who represent the people of Arizona, right or wrong.
Yeh, watch the Feds continue their psychotic crippling of our nation and its strength. Like the Roman empire, we will be overrun with people who are not committed to the values that made us great, and we will in fact crumble over time. We probably won't disappear; just become second rate, with sky high taxes, rampant crime, etc. Phoenix is the number one city in the country for home invasions and kidnappings. Guess why?? Wake up, folks.
Great. Just great. Now when an Arizona cop pulls over a truck for speeding and finds that it contains several people of obvious hispanic descent who can't speak a word of english and who have no identification, he can't even inquire as to whether they're in this country illegally or not? No wonder this country is going into the toilet. Common sense has become an endangered species.
Why cant we just do a better job securing our borders? Oh yea, because they want them to come in.
Thinks all the whining is hilarious. Losing really stinks doesn't it... boo hoo. Lost the election and now this! God must be angry with you AZ. Ha Ha... well, there is always Palin to get your hopes up over...
racial profiling = when you are white newly single mother born in USA standing in line needing assistance and you get frowned upon for not having a job while all the illegals getting pregnant get assistance no problem
Carol your absolutly right we give to them free but we don't take care of our own. I can't pay for my medicine but can I get help NO we get $58.00 mo. to much to get help my medicine cost me 1089.00 for one prescription for 3 mo. I had breast cancer and this medicine is suppose to help keep it from coming back. Guess I'll do without.
If I'm illegal I go to jail !!! Illegal is illegal get legal or go home They want to be americans but yet they fly the Mexican flag guess what this is the U.S.A. not mexico
All this left right banter is such a waste of our time here. Focus on the issues not the football game politics. The owners of this country are laughing at all of you...
@mytoys666 – you are an idiot. arent you an American first? Oh thats right you are a democrat first.
You go Danram!!!! some people just don.t understand ILLEGAL
@Julia – obviously you are not a native American. Your English is broken and your spelling is terrible. Thats strike one against you. Obviously you are a liberal therefore you are also brain damaged. Just goes to show, they will let anyone into the country.