Earlier today, a federal judge blocked key portions of Arizona’s
controversial immigration enforcement law from going into effect. In
her ruling, United States District Court Judge Susan Bolton stated that
some portions of Arizona’s immigration law will be able to go into
effect today, as scheduled. However, the judge issued a preliminary
injection against the parts of the law that call for police officers to
check and verify people’s immigration status when they are enforcing
other. In addition, the preliminary injunction also took issue with the
part of the law that would require immigrants to carry documentation of
their immigration status at all times. Both of these parts of the law
have been placed on hold while Judge Bolton listens to various
challenges to the law.
“There is a substantial likelihood that officers will wrongfully arrest
legal resident aliens,” wrote Judge Bolton. “By enforcing this statute,
Arizona would impose a ‘distinct, unusual and extraordinary’ burden on
legal resident aliens that only the federal government has the
authority to impose.”
Arizona’s immigration enforcement law was adopted in April 2010 and has
caused much controversy from both sides of the immigration debate.
