Image Source: The Birmingham News
BY: IRIS ZHANG
You're watching multisource politics news analysis from Newsy.
A federal judge has temporarily blocked Alabama’s controversial immigration law-- setting back its implementation.
The law would allow police to detain suspected illegal immigrants and require schools to report students’ immigration status.
CNN reports how Judge Sharon Blackburn justified her decision.
“In her two-page order, the judge said there was not enough time before Thursday to address all the legal arguments from various parties over the law's constitutionality.”
On PBS, opponents called the law unconstitutional-- and expressed confidence in winning the case.
“I think there is no doubt that the federal government stands with immigrants in Alabama saying that this is not something the state is permitted to do.”
A commentator tells Fox News-- the law will ultimately survive.”
“Remember this court delay is certainly not a denial. Based on what we are hearing it looks like the judge seems to feel as we do, as many do, that federal preemption, the idea that it’s our job here in Washington to enforce immigration law, doesn’t necessarily preclude meaningful and lawful constitutional participation by states.”
Despite debate over state’s role in enforcement, a co-sponsor of the law took his stand in USA Today, saying-- whether immigration law should be enforced is what really matters.
“Illegal immigration is one of the many challenges facing our country, and kicking the can down the road has not made things better... If looking out for Alabamians is draconian, so be it.”
Similarly strict immigration laws have also gone through other states, but did not last long, as the BBC reports.
“Similar laws passed this year and last in Utah, Georgia and Arizona have been blocked in whole or in part after challenges by the Obama administration, which argues that only the federal government has constitutional authority to set immigration policy.”
Transcript by Newsy.
