Group appeals ruling on Alabama immigration law

MONTGOMERY - A coalition of civil rights groups is appealing a judge's decision that let several parts of Alabama's immigration law go into effect Thursday.

The coalition led by the Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama is also asking U.S. District Judge Sharon Blackburn to put all of Alabama's law on hold while the appeal is pending at the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta.

Blackburn has given defendants until Monday morning to say why that shouldn't be done.

Blackburn issued an order Wednesday allowing several major parts of the law to take effect, including allowing police to detain people suspected of being in the country illegally.