US judge steps in over disputed immigrant law

A LAST minute intervention by a US federal judge has prevented the most controversial parts of Arizona's new immigration law from coming into force today.

US district judge Susan Bolton last night ruled that sections of the state law requiring police officers to check a person's immigration status while enforcing other laws should be suspended while courts decide on their legality.

The judge also put on hold parts of the law that required immigrants to carry their papers at all times and made it illegal for undocumented workers to solicit employment in public places.

The ruling came just as Arizona police were making last-minute preparations to begin enforcement of the law.

Lawyers for the state contend the law is a constitutionally sound attempt by Arizona to assist federal immigration agents and lessen the costs for educating, jailing and providing health care for illegal immigrants.