ACLU Challenges New Utah Immigration Law

Immigrant activists in Utah have asked a federal judge to stop a new immigration enforcement law signed by Utah Republican Gov. Gary Herbert from being implemented. The American Civil Liberties Union and the National Immigration Law Center last week filed a lawsuit challenging the Arizona-style law, and on Friday they filed memorandum seeking a preliminary injunction, the Deseret News reported.

Herbert signed the new law after state lawmakers passed several immigration bills, including enforcement-related bill that some have said is a milder version of similar legislation that was previously passed in Arizona.

Federal courts have found part of that law to be unconstitutional, and some expect the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case against the Arizona law.

Advocates for the Utah bill say it eliminates the controversial parts found in the Arizona enforcement law. But critics say it's essentially the same and that it’s an inherent violation of U.S. constitutional rights. They also say it conflicts and overlaps with federal laws already in place.

In their request for an injunction, they argue that keeping the law from being enforced is not adverse to the public interest and that they're likely to succeed on their claim. They say implementation would result in irreparable harm.