In a much-anticipated ruling Monday afternoon, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals allowed one part of Georgia’s controversial new immigration law to go forward. But it continued an injunction against another section of H.B. 87. WABE’s Denis O’Hayer takes a look.
In a 33-page ruling, the Court looked at two sections of the law that had been put under injunction by a district court. At issue was whether state lawmakers intruded on Federal authority, when they passed those two provisions.
The appeals court lifted the injunction on what’s often called the “show-us-your-papers” section. So now, state, county, and local law enforcement officers can check the immigration status of suspects they pick up on other charges–if the suspects cannot produce the proper documentation. The judges noted the Supreme Court recently approved a similar provision in Arizona. And the appeals court found that this section of Georgia’s law does not infringe on Federal jurisdiction, but cooperates with it.
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