Court Blocks Parts of Alabama Immigration Law

The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals issued an injunction today blocking two key provisions of Alabama’s controversial immigration law: the one requiring immigrants to carry special alien registration cards, and another forcing schools to check the immigration status of enrolling students. The court said the legal challenges against those provisions from the Obama administration and civil liberties groups were likely to succeed, and that the provisions would be harmful in the meantime, the Montgomery Advertiser reports.

But the justices left the law’s other provisions in place, including one forcing police to check the immigration status of suspects if they have a “reasonable suspicion” they’re illegal aliens, one voiding all contracts signed by illegals, and another making it a felony for an illegal to conduct any “business transaction.” Alabama’s House Speaker declared victory over that. “Alabama will not be a sanctuary state for illegal aliens, and this ruling reinforces that,” he said. The court also expedited oral arguments in the case, saying it would hear them in December, CNN reports. (More 11th Circuit Court of Appeals stories.)