Atlanta, GA – The state of Alabama is asking a federal appeals court to allow it to enforce its strict law targeting illegal immigration.
Alabama said in arguments filed Tuesday that there is not enough evidence to show that enforcing the law will cause irreparable harm.
The law is considered one of the toughest in the country and has come under fire since it was passed earlier this year.
The U.S. government and a coalition of advocacy groups are challenging it. They have asked the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to block it, at least temporarily.
The coalition of groups argues the law has thrown Alabama into chaos and left some Hispanics too afraid to go to their jobs and reluctant to send their kids to school.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)