Alabama's immigration law permanently blocked in Justice Dept. lawsuit

Posted: Nov 25, 2013 2:46 PM PSTUpdated: Nov 25, 2013 2:46 PM PSTBy Stephanie Wilson - email


STATEWIDE -The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama entered its final judgement today in United States v. Alabama, resolving the Justice Department's constitutional challenge to Alabama's immigration law. The judgement permanently blocks Alabama from enforcing seven provisions of House Bill 56, that were designed to affect virtually every aspect of an unauthorized immigrant's daily life. The challenged provisions also threatened to impose significant burdens on federal and state agencies, diverting their resources away from dangerous criminal aliens and other high-priority criminal activity.

Monday's judgement follows the decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit declaring the enjoined provisions unconstitutional because they impermissibly conflicted with federal immigration law and undermined federal immigration-enforcement efforts. The judgement also dismisses challenges to three other provisions of the Alabama immigration law, although the Justice Department would be able to file a new challenge if the implementation of those provisions raised legal problems.

http://www.abc3340.com/story/2406663...e-dept-lawsuit