Arizona judge prevents controversial portions of SB 1070 from taking effect. On Wednesday, Judge Susan Bolton issued a preliminary injunction on key provisions in the Arizona immigration law. Parts of the law still went into effect yesterday, but the judge’s injunction “blocked the heart of the measure and defused a confrontation between police and thousands of activists.” Governor Jan Brewer has already filed an appeal to the injunction and vows to not back down.

Fremont, Nebraska suspends its new immigration ordinance. Fremont city council voted to suspend the “voter-approved ban on hiring or renting” to undocumented immigrants. The ultimate fate of the ordinance is now in the hands of the courts, but it is yet to be decided whether the lawsuits challenging the ordinance will be heard in state or federal court.  

Obama administration sends mixed messages on comprehensive immigration reform. Under the Obama administration a record number of undocumented immigrants are being deported, while at the same time the administration advocates for comprehensive reform. According to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency about 400,000 people will be deported this fiscal year, which is 10 percent greater than under the Bush administration. However, in the wake of the heightened focus on immigration thanks to Arizona’s controversial law, the administration is looking for ways to enact pieces of comprehensive immigration reform without congressional approval.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will push for DREAM Act to pass this year. This week, Senator Reid announced his intention to bring a vote on the DREAM Act before the end of the year. The movement on the DREAM Act comes with the acknowledgment that passing comprehensive immigration reform is unlikely this year. Unlike comprehensive immigration reform, the DREAM Act has bipartisan support.