Post by Alyssa on Sept 29, 2011 14:01:47 GMT -5
Parts of Alabama immigration law to go forward
read more: www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2011-09-28/alabama-immigration-law/50589580/1
read more: www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2011-09-28/alabama-immigration-law/50589580/1
WASHINGTON – A federal judge in Alabama ruled on Wednesday that the state can move forward with key provisions of an immigration law designed to drive illegal immigrants out of the state, ending a 14-month losing streak for anti-illegal-immigration advocates from Arizona to Georgia.
U.S. District Judge Sharon Blackburn ruled that federal law does not prohibit state officials from checking the immigration status of students or suspects pulled over by police. Blackburn also refused to stop provisions that make it a misdemeanor for illegal immigrants not to carry immigration papers, allow police to hold suspected illegal immigrants without bond and bar state courts from enforcing contracts entered into by illegal immigrants.
The U.S. Justice Department and several civil rights groups sued Alabama after it passed the law, known as HB 56, arguing that immigration enforcement is solely the responsibility of the federal government.
A similar Justice lawsuit last year led to a federal judge blocking the core aspects of Arizona's SB 1070, which would have granted local police more immigration-enforcement powers and reignited the national immigration debate. On Wednesday, Blackburn found that portions of HB 56 mirrored federal laws and that "it is not 'inconsistent with the purpose of Congress' to do that which Congress has already done."
Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley, a Republican, said after the ruling that he intends to enforce the "strongest immigration law in our country." The Justice Department said in a statement that it is reviewing its options. An ACLU attorney said an appeal is likely.
U.S. District Judge Sharon Blackburn ruled that federal law does not prohibit state officials from checking the immigration status of students or suspects pulled over by police. Blackburn also refused to stop provisions that make it a misdemeanor for illegal immigrants not to carry immigration papers, allow police to hold suspected illegal immigrants without bond and bar state courts from enforcing contracts entered into by illegal immigrants.
The U.S. Justice Department and several civil rights groups sued Alabama after it passed the law, known as HB 56, arguing that immigration enforcement is solely the responsibility of the federal government.
A similar Justice lawsuit last year led to a federal judge blocking the core aspects of Arizona's SB 1070, which would have granted local police more immigration-enforcement powers and reignited the national immigration debate. On Wednesday, Blackburn found that portions of HB 56 mirrored federal laws and that "it is not 'inconsistent with the purpose of Congress' to do that which Congress has already done."
Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley, a Republican, said after the ruling that he intends to enforce the "strongest immigration law in our country." The Justice Department said in a statement that it is reviewing its options. An ACLU attorney said an appeal is likely.
