Arizona appealing ruling that tossed immigrant smuggling law

Associated Press 12:26 p.m. MST January 7, 2015


(Photo: azcentral)

Arizona plans to appeal a ruling that bars authorities from enforcing the state's 2005 immigrant smuggling law — once a powerful tool for local authorities to confront illegal immigration.

The state's lawyers informed U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton on Tuesday of their plans to appeal her November decision that concluded the state law is trumped by federal statutes.

Bolton struck down the smuggling law as part of the Obama administration's challenge of the state's landmark 2010 immigration enforcement law, which made a minor change to the 2005 statute.

The state contends the smuggling statute doesn't conflict with federal law.

The smuggling law was used frequently in Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's immigration efforts and is among a string of Arizona immigration statutes that have been thrown out by the courts.

http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/...ling/21395983/