Key parts of Arizona anti-immigration law blocked

A US judge on Wednesday blocked key parts of Arizona's tough new immigration law hours before it was to take effect, handing a victory to the Obama administration as it tries to take control of the issue.

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer said she would file an appeal to reinstate the provisions, which had popular support but were opposed by President Barack Obama and immigration and human rights groups.

"This fight is far from over," Brewer said, adding that "at the end of what is certain to be a long legal struggle, Arizona will prevail in its right to protect our citizens."

The Republican-controlled state legislature passed the law three months ago to try to drive nearly half a million illegal immigrants out of Arizona and stem the flow of human and drug smugglers over the border from Mexico.

The provisions blocked by US District Judge Susan Bolton included one that required a police officer to determine the immigration status of a person detained or arrested if the officer believed the person was not in the country legally.

Bolton also halted provisions requiring immigrants to carry their papers at all times and making it illegal for people without proper documents to tout for work in public places.

Immigration as an issue has festered in US politics for years and attempts to overhaul the system have failed, most recently in 2007 when Republicans torpedoed reforms pushed by George W. Bush, then the Republican president.

The ruling is a significant victory for Obama, who wants to break the deadlock with Republicans to pass a comprehensive immigration law tightening border security and giving millions of illegal immigrants a shot at legal status -- an already difficult task before November's congressional elections.

There are an estimated 10.8 million illegal immigrants in the United States, a country of more than 300 million people.

The Justice Department had argued provisions of the Arizona law, which goes into effect on Thursday, encroached on federal authority over immigration policy and enforcement.

In her 36-page decision, Bolton agreed, finding "the United States is likely to suffer irreparable harm" if her court did not block the selected parts of the law.

"The number of requests that will emanate from Arizona as a result of determining the status of every arrestee is likely to impermissibly burden federal resources and redirect federal agencies away from the priorities they have established," she said.

COULD GO TO SUPREME COURT

Bolton kept some parts of the law, including provisions making it illegal for drivers to pick up day laborers off the street and to transport or harbor an illegal immigrant.

Brewer said her state "will soon file an expedited appeal" with the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Arizona can appeal ultimately to the US Supreme Court. In that case, it could embroil the cash-strapped desert state in a protracted and costly legal battle.

"There are no winners here," said Representative Ann Kirkpatrick, an Arizona Democrat who faces a tough battle for re-election in November.

"No matter what the courts ultimately decide, we will still have wasted millions of dollars and our borders will still not be secure."

John McCain and Jon Kyl, Arizona's Republican US senators, said they were "deeply disappointed" by the ruling and took aim at Obama for failing to provide resources to secure the state's porous border with Mexico.

"Instead of wasting taxpayer resources filing a lawsuit against Arizona ... the Obama administration should have focused its efforts on working with Congress to provide the necessary resources to support the state in its efforts to act where the federal government has failed," their statement said.

McCain, a Republican moderate, faces a tough challenge in the party's state primary election from former congressman J.D. Hayworth, a conservative who is hawkish on border issues.

About three dozen Hispanic activists at an open-air mass outside the state capitol in central Phoenix jumped up, hugged and wept as news of Bolton's ruling broke.

"I think that our efforts have paid off," said Dulce Matuz, a college graduate who has lived in Arizona without papers for a decade, adding activists would carry on fighting to overturn the rest of the law.

The Mexican government hailed the ruling as a "step in the right direction." Around 100 activists cheered and chanted "Yes we can" and "No to xenophobia" as news of the ruling reached a rally outside the US embassy in Mexico City.

"WIND OUT OF SAILS"

Peter Spiro, a law professor at Temple University and a former attorney in the State Department, said he was not surprised the more controversial parts of the law were halted.

"I expect those provisions will never go into effect, though this is only a preliminary order," Spiro said.

"I also think this will take the wind out of the sails of anti-immigration efforts on the state level, though it will probably intensify such efforts at the federal level."

Polls show the Arizona law is backed by a solid majority of Americans and 65 per cent of the state's voters. It is inspiring copycat efforts in at least 20 other states.

Obama supports allowing illegal immigrants in good standing to pay a fine, learn English and get on track to citizenship. He also has supported tightening border security and clamping down on employers that hire undocumented workers.

Opponents of the Arizona law say it will lead to harassment of Hispanic or Hispanic-looking Americans.

Thousands were headed to Phoenix for protests on Thursday, when the law takes effect, and street rallies were planned across the country.

Police arrested four activists late on Wednesday, after they scaled a crane in downtown Phoenix and unfurled a banner reading "Stop the Hate."

They faced trespassing charges, a police spokesman said.

Police across Arizona, the main corridor for human and drug smugglers entering the United States from Mexico, have been preparing to implement the law.

The state's 15,000 officers have had training on how to identify people they suspect are unlawfully in Arizona without resorting to racial profiling.

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, known for his tough approach to illegal immigrants in the Phoenix area, said he would push ahead with plans for a crime and immigration sweep on Thursday regardless of limitations placed on the law.

"It's business as usual for this sheriff's office," Arpaio said. "All these protesters coming here from everywhere and the local critics aren't going to change the way Arizona or this sheriff will fight our illegal immigration problem."
 

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