“A federal judge in Phoenix on Wednesday blocked key provisions of Arizona’s controversial immigration law from taking effect as scheduled Thursday, granting in part an injunction requested by the Obama administration.

U.S. District Judge Susan R. Bolton ruled that the injunction would apply to the portion of the state law that requires police to try to determine the immigration status of a person they arrest, stop or detain while enforcing other laws if they reasonably suspect the person is in the United States illegally.

Bolton said in her 36-page ruling that it was “not in the public interest” for Arizona to enforce provisions that preempt federal enforcement of immigration law.

Also put on hold were parts of the law requiring foreigners to apply for or carry certain documents, making it a state crime for undocumented workers “to solicit, apply for or perform work,” and mandating verification of the immigration status of any arrested person prior to release, the ruling said.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/28/AR2010072801794.html