Judge to hear arguments on Ga. immigration law

ATLANTA - A federal judge in Atlanta will hear arguments on an attempt by civil liberties groups to block Georgia's new law cracking down on illegal immigration from taking effect.

The hearing before Judge Thomas Thrash is set for Monday. Thrash has indicated he may rule from the bench.

Civil liberties groups have asked Thrash to block the law from taking effect until a lawsuit they filed earlier this month has been resolved. That lawsuit asked the judge to find the law unconstitutional and to keep authorities from enforcing it.

Thrash will also hear arguments Monday on the state's motion to dismiss the lawsuit.

The Georgia law has some similarities to laws enacted in Arizona and Utah, parts or all of which have already been blocked by federal judges.

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