Arizona must be why God made checks and balances. Last week a federal judge blocked the state from cutting off domestic partner benefits for gay and lesbian employees. Then on Wednesday, another federal judge blocked the most controversial portions of the state’s new anti-immigration law from going into effect. The Associated Press reports:
The overall law will still take effect Thursday, but without the provisions that angered opponents — including sections that required officers to check a person’s immigration status while enforcing other laws.
The judge also put on hold parts of the law that required immigrants to carry their papers at all times, and made it illegal for undocumented workers to solicit employment in public places. In addition, the judge blocked officers from making warrantless arrests of suspected illegal immigrants.
“Requiring Arizona law enforcement officials and agencies to determine the immigration status of every person who is arrested burdens lawfully-present aliens because their liberty will be restricted while their status is checked,” U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton ruled.
