The law, H.B. 56, allows police and some government officials to demand proof of legal status if they have "reasonable suspicion" a person may be in the country illegally. While Alabama police will still be able to detain people they determine are in the country illegally, they will no longer be allowed to stop people they believe to be undocumented immigrants based on "reasonable suspicion."
The decision came after a lawsuit was brought by the Justice Department, contending that the law pre-empted federal immigration law and could lead to racial profiling. The law was upheld by a federal judge in September, allowing it to go into effect.
