July 28: US Border Patrol agents patrol along the border fence between Arizona and Mexico at the town of Nogales. A federal judge blocked the most controversial parts of Arizona's new immigration law Wednesday, barring police from checking the immigrant status of suspected criminals. The ruling came hours before the new law had been due to go into effect, handing temporary victory to civil rights groups and the Obama administration which has challenged the legislation. (Getty Images)
Soon after Judge Susan Bolton’s decision was announced, a spokesman for Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer said the state will appeal the ruling to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco on Thursday, asking the appellate court for a swift decision to lift the injunction and allow the blocked provisions to take effect.
Brewer vowed to take the case “all the way to the Supreme Court if necessary,” in a legal process that could take years to unravel, leaving other states considering similar laws in a legislative limbo.
While opponents of Arizona’s strict immigration law are claiming victory after Wednesday’s ruling, there’s still plenty left in the state legislation that supporters are cheering.
As the case is litigated, Arizona will be able to block state officials from so-called “sanctuary city” policies limiting enforcement of federal law; require that state officials work with federal officials on illegal immigration; allow civil suits over sanctuary cities; and to make it a crime to pick up day laborers.
