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Last updated on Tuesday, June 21, 2011
(UNDATED) - A federal judge will decide soon on a move to block a new Indiana law from taking effect.
Civil rights groups say the law gives police broad powers against immigrants who haven't committed any crime.
The case centers on new powers given to police agencies statewide on July 1st to arrest people on a variety of non-criminal immigration matters in addition to the use of consular identification cards.
Those are cards issued by consulates.
State Attorneys argued in court that the state wants to prevent fraudulent use of the cards as form of proper identification in Indiana.
However, the ACLU of Indiana says the cards, issued to thousands of immigrants, are a function of national and international treaty and the state is overstepping its bounds on the immigration issue.
State Attorneys argued the cards are accepted by the federal treasury department as proper form of identification.
Judge Sarah Evans Barker questioned whether this was in direct conflict with the state's petition.
The judge is took the case under advisement and is expected to rule before July first.
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