Federal Judge Blocks Certain Provisions of Georgia Immigration Law

Today, U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Thrash granted a temporary injunction on key parts of the Georgia Immigration law due to go into effect on July 1, 2011. The Judge ruled that the criminal provisions of the law, specifically those empowering police to investigate the immigration status of certain suspects and those prohibiting the transport, harboring, and enticing of illegal aliens, ran afoul of federal law. The parts of the law that were not blocked will go into effect as scheduled, including those requiring state contractors and private employers to participate in E-Verify. You can read our original Legal Alert about the Georgia Law.

The temporary injunction will continue until the Judge makes a determination on the merits of the lawsuit filed by several parties, including the Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights, against the Georgia immigration law. State officials have indicated they would appeal the ruling to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta.

Judges in Indiana, Utah and Arizona have granted preliminary injunctions on significant components of those states' immigration laws. Tough immigration laws recently passed by Alabama and South Carolina are likely to face similar legal challenges.

This Global Immigration Alert provides an overview of a specific new law. It is not intended to be, and should not be construed as, legal advice on any particular fact situation.