Judge says no delay for Alabama. immigration law

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - A federal judge has refused to put portions of Alabama's new immigration law on hold while opponents appeal her order that let major parts of the law take effect a week ago.

U.S. District Judge Sharon Blackburn refused to issue a stay Wednesday afternoon. She ruled a week ago that major portions of the law could go into effect while opponents challenged them. The U.S. Justice Department and a coalition of civil rights group had asked her to put that on hold while they appealed to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.