A United South Carolina

The controversial state immigration law that faced widespread criticism during the legislative session took another beating in federal court Monday.

U.S. District Judge Sarah Evans Barker grilled a deputy attorney general for roughly an hour about how exactly the state could enforce the legislation without running afoul of federal law and international treaties.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana is challenging two main provisions of the law: the use of consular identification cards and the arrest of people whose immigration status is questionable.

Barker said she will make a decision by July 1 — the day the law is slated to go into effect — about whether to suspend enforcement of those provisions while the ACLU and the state make their case.

The ACLU is challenging the law’s prohibition of the use of ID cards issued by foreign consulates, even though the Treasury allows banks to accept them. The other part of the law being challenged allows local police to arrest immigrants whose immigration status has been questioned by federal authorities — even if those authorities have determined that the person should be able to remain in the country. (more…)