Appeals Court Suspends Parts of Alabama's Immigration Law
A federal appeals court on Friday suspended parts of Alabama's tough immigration law while it considers the Justice Department's request to strike it down.
The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta ruled that Alabama cannot prosecute illegal immigrants for not carrying registration documents with them at all times or require schools to check the immigration status of all students.
But the court said Alabama, among other things, can require police officers to verify the immigration status of anyone they lawfully stop if they suspect they are in the country illegally. Illegal immigrants will also be prohibited from obtaining a license to drive, get a vehicle or open a business.
The Justice Department opposes Alabama's law, claiming it invites discrimination against foreign-born citizens and legal immigrants and is at odds with federal policy.
A final decision on the law won't be made for months to allow time for more arguments.
Immigration has become a contentious issue in Alabama over the last 10 years as the state's Hispanic population grew by 145 percent to about 185,600. While the group still represents only about 4 percent of the population, some counties in north Alabama have large Spanish-speaking communities and schools where most of the students are Hispanic.
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