U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton struck down key provisions in Arizona’s infamous SB 1070 law today and ruled that states cannot preempt federal law. According to The Washington Post:

“Bolton ruled that the injunction would apply to the portion of the state law that requires police to try to determine the immigration status of a person they arrest, stop or detain while enforcing other laws if they reasonably suspect the person is in the United States illegally … Bolton said in her ruling that it was ‘not in the public interest’ for Arizona to enforce provisions that preempt federal enforcement of immigration law.”

The Obama administration filed a lawsuit against Arizona, saying the law was “misguided” and unconstitutional, and also warned that the provision would result in racial profiling and harassment of U.S. citizens, legal immigrants, and foreign visitors. Other portions of law will take effect Thursday at 12:01 a.m.

Photo: Jorge Neri

+ CCIR: Sign up for “On the Move” on August 12, a webinar with Rev. David Vasquez on immigration stories and ministry.