Federal judge orders 3 lawsuits against Alabama immigration

Federal judge orders 3 lawsuits against Alabama immigration law consolidated into 1 case
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
First Posted: August 04, 2011 - 11:10 am

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Three separate lawsuits seeking to stop Alabama's new law cracking down on illegal immigrants have been consolidated into one case.

U. S. District Judge Sharon Blackburn ruled Wednesday she would consider all three lawsuits together and will hear arguments made in all three suits seeking to block implementation of the law on Sept. 1. She has scheduled a hearing for 9 a.m. Aug. 24 in Birmingham to consider those motions.

The new law passed the Legislature in June and has been described by opponents and supporters as the toughest crackdown on illegal immigration in the country.

The three cases include a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Justice Department, a similar action filed by a coalition of civil rights groups and a third suit filed by Alabama religious leaders.

http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/3 ... w-Lawsuit/