U.S. Asks for Bar to Alabama Immigration Laws During Appeal

(Updates with U.S. argument in fourth paragraph.)

Oct. 7 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. government asked a federal appellate court to block enforcement of part of Alabama’s new immigration laws while it seeks review of a lower-court ruling in favor of the state.

U.S. District Judge Sharon Lovelace Blackburn in Birmingham, Alabama, last week rejected parts of a federal challenge to legislation signed by Governor Robert Bentley in June. The state created new police powers, including the authority to examine the immigration status of people stopped if there is “reasonable suspicion” they are unlawfully in the country.

Blackburn on Oct. 5 denied the federal government’s request for a stay of enforcement while the decision is appealed.

“The state regime contravenes the federal government’s exclusive authority over immigration,” attorneys for the U.S. government said today in papers filed with the Court of Appeals in Atlanta.

Rebekah Mason, a spokeswoman for the governor, did not immediately respond to a telephone message seeking comment on today’s filing.

The case is U.S. v. State of Alabama, 11-14532, U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals (Atlanta).

--Editors: Andrew Dunn, Charles Carter

To contact the reporter on this story: Andrew Harris in Chicago at [email protected].

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Michael Hytha at [email protected]