A federal judge today blocked some of the most controversial provisions in the draconian anti-immigrant law Arizona’s governor signed into law in April.

The law is scheduled to take effect tonight at midnight. U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton temporarily blocked portions of the law including those requiring law enforcement officers to determine the immigration status of individuals they stop and making it a crime to be without immigration papers, holding that these provisions are unlikely to hold up in federal court.

Leslie Watson Malachi, Director of People For the American Way’s African American Ministers in Action (AAMIA), issued the following statement:

“As President Obama has said, ‘we are a nation of immigrants and a nation of laws.’ This law ignores both of those foundations. The courts will do what they have to do, and that is to throw out the most pernicious aspects of SB1070. Now we must do our part as Americans and contribute to the creation of a responsible, respectful, and honest national immigration policy. Arizona’s law was passed amid a storm of anger and fear. In going forward, let’s make sure the conversation, debate, and dialogue on this issue is framed with honesty, mutual respect, and human dignity.” 

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