Federal Judge Denies DOJ’s Request to Stay Alabama’s Immigration Law

Today, U.S. District Judge Sharon Blackburn denied the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) request to stay her previous ruling last week which kept major portions of Alabama’s restrictive immigration law, HB 56, intact. Following the judge’s ruling, the DOJ requested a stay of the law pending an appeal to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. Among the provisions Judge Blackburn kept, one requires police to determine the immigration status of those stopped, detained, or arrested whom they reasonably suspect is in the country illegally. Another provision requires public schools to determine the immigration status of enrolling students. Pending a stay from the 11^th Circuit Court of Appeals, HB 56 will remain in effect.