No quick immigration ruling for Alabama

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WALA) - The United States Supreme Court struck down parts of Arizona's immigration law. But one provision still stands; officers can check someone's immigration status if they have reasonable suspicion they are here illegally.

FOX10 News found out how the court's decision may affect Alabama's immigration law.

The Supreme Court struck down three provisions of Arizona's immigration law which served as a model for the law passed in Alabama. While the Supreme Court has ruled on Arizona’s immigration law, Alabama's law is still under review.

"What we will have to do us wait and see how the 11the Circuit Court rules on our particular law even though it is similar it is not the same," said Alabama Governor Robert Bentley.

Bentley saidofficers will continue to enforce Alabama's immigration law; and if any part if it is ruled unconstitutional, the state will make the necessary changes. Until then, he said officers can check into someone's status, if there is quote a reasonable suspicion.

"If we stop someone in the state and while they are committing a crime, and they are stopped then their immigration status can be checked," he said.

Mobile attorney Robert Ratliff practices immigration law. He said the 11th Circuit Court could follow the Supreme Court’s lead for Alabama.

 "People applying for work or employers hiring people without status, those portions have been struck down in the Arizona law which I think does not bode well for the Alabama law."

Ratliff said in the meantime, some Alabamians don't like the fact that police have the authority to inquire into their status. Bentley said the state will not discriminate.

"We are not going to profile people. We are not going to look at other people in the car that have not committed a crime and profile and check those people," he said.

 The Southern Poverty Law center said that hasn’t been the case so far.

"We will show that in fact, what's been happening in Alabama is exactly the opposite. That people are being stopped simply because of their immigration status, and that's the only reason they are being held. If we can show that, then we can show that this law is unconstitutional."   Sam brooke with Southern Poverty Center.

Ratliff said the circuit court decision regarding Alabama's law could take a few months.

Attorney General Luther Strange also weighed in on the issue. He said Arizona's law will affect Alabama's. His office is reviewing the decision to see just how much.