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.

Michael B. Keegan, President of People For the American Way, issued the following statement:

“This ruling is a victory for civil liberties, for public safety, and for common sense. SB 1070 stripped away basic civil liberties and essentially mandated racial profiling by state police, while creating a culture of fear and suspicion that would make it harder for law enforcement officers to do their jobs. Judge Bolton is correct that the most reckless provisions of the law–at the very least–won’t stand scrutiny in federal court, and was right to stop them from taking effect.

“Our country’s immigration system is broken, but it’s clear that reactionary and irresponsible laws like this one only serve to set back the progress of real reform. As this ruling shows, SB 1070 violates our legal system as well as our values. It is time to put aside the smear tactics and fear-mongering that led to its enactment, and work towards an honest, respectful, and pragmatic solution to immigration reform.”  

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