ACLU Sues to Block Utah Immigration Law

The America Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a federal lawsuit in Utah to try to stop the state’s recently enacted immigration enforcement law. The ACLU and the National Immigration Law Center filed the complaint on behalf of several individuals and organizations, including the Utah Coalition of La Raza and the Latin American Chamber of Commerce, the Deseret News reported Wednesday.

The plaintiffs’ lawyers plan to seek an injunction against the law this week in U.S. District Court to stop the law from being enforced, said Karen McCreary, executive director of the state ACLU. The ACLU decided to try to stop the law now because it’s scheduled to start being enforced May 15.

Meanwhile, the Department of Justice Tuesday also signaled that it might challenge the Utah law. U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder told a congressional committee that, if Utah doesn’t make some adjustments, the justice department probably would have to step in, the newspaper reported.

Rep. Chris Herrod, a Provo Republican and staunch supporter of the immigration law, criticized the ACLU lawsuit as "politically motivated" and said it lacks merit.

Herrod said it’s odd that the ACLU is taking on a bill that didn't raise constitutional questions among legislative attorneys.