A coalition of civil rights groups wants the so-called show me your papers provision blocked.
PHOENIX - A judge heard arguments over Arizona's controversial immigration law and will decide whether to block part of the law.
The law being discussed is section 2b, which allows police to ask about someone's immigration status if that officer has reasonable suspicion that the person is here illegally.
Judge Susan Bolton, the same judge who heard the first case against SB1070, heard the arguements today.
She gave no time frame as to when she would rule.
The supreme court has already upheld this section of the law, but a group represented by the ACLU and the National Immigration Law Center is asking Judge Bolton to stop that part of the law from taking effect.
The supreme court left the door open for future challenges this aspect of SB1070, and the lawyers argued today that the law will disproportionately affect hispanics. They also submitted e-mails from legislators as evidence that the passage of SB1070 was racially motivated, which would mean SB1070 violates the equal protection clause of the 14th amendment to the constitution.
Lawyers for Governor Brewer were quick to fire back against that claim. They said of course the law will affect hispanics, because they make up the largest portion of the population in Arizona illegally. That doesn't mean the law shouldn't take effect and they cited case law to support their arguement.
Copyright © 2003-2013 Clear Channel. All rights reserved.
