Immigration Crackdown - Georgia: Judge halts parts of anti-illegal immigration law

Once again, hurrah for federal judges and the ACLU, which is taking on all these state immigration crackdown laws. 

Judge halts parts of anti-illegal immigration law | ajc.com: "A federal judge on Monday put on hold some of the most controversial parts of Georgia's new anti-illegal immigration law pending the outcome of a lawsuit challenging its constitutionality. The judge upheld other provisions, prompting both sides in the debate over illegal immigration in Georgia to claim victory. ...

U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Thrash's 45-page ruling sharply criticizes state officials for making an end-run around federal law. That provoked a stinging response from Gov. Nathan Deal’s office Monday, which said the state would appeal Thrash’s decision to halt two sections of the law that were supposed to go into effect Friday.

One of those provisions would empower police to investigate the immigration status of suspects who they believe have committed state or federal crimes and who cannot produce identification, such as a driver’s license, or provide other information that could help police identify them. The other part would punish people who -– while committing another offense -- knowingly transport or harbor illegal immigrants or encourage them to come here.

The judge said the American Civil Liberties Union and other civil and immigrant rights groups who are suing to block the law have shown they are likely to succeed in arguments that these provisions are preempted by federal law."