ACLU sues Utah over new immigration law

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Two national organizations are suing Utah to halt a new immigration law they claim encourages racial profiling.

The National Immigration Law Center argues legislation signed by Gov. Gary Herbert in March is just as unconstitutional as a similar Arizona law that is also before the courts.

The American Civil Liberties Union also joined the lawsuit filed today in federal court in Salt Lake City.

The most controversial parts of Arizona’s law are on hold pending a trial. They include a provision that would require police officers who are enforcing other laws to question the immigration status of those they suspect are in the country illegally.

Utah’s law requires people to prove their citizenship only if they’re arrested for a felony or class-A misdemeanor.

The groups argue states are not allowed to trump federal law and that the Utah law violates the constitutional protection from unlawful search and seizure.