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Injunction Against Arizona's Controversial Immigration Law Upheld
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In July of last year, U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton issued an injunction barring Arizona police from enforcing part of a highly controversial law that purported to deal with illegal immigration. The law, which was protested widely both in Arizona and in California, gave police unprecedented freedom to arrest Arizona residents who they believe may be undocumented. Many who protested feared that the law would encourage racial profiling and discrimination.
The Arizona Daily Star reported at the time of Bolton's decision that sections of the law that were blocked included:
Arizona governor Jan Brewer challenged the injunction, asking the courts to life the ban and allow the law to go into full effect. A panel today determined that the ruling was legit, and would stand.
The Arizona Daily Star reported at the time of Bolton's decision that sections of the law that were blocked included:
• Requiring a police officer to make a reasonable attempt to check the immigration status of those they have stopped; • Forbidding police from releasing anyone they have arrested until that person's immigration status is determined;
• Making it a violation of Arizona law for anyone not a citizen to fail to carry documentation;
• Creating a new state crime for trying to secure work while not a legal resident;
• Allowing police to make warrantless arrests if there is a belief the person has committed an offense that allows them to be removed from the United States.
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