Arizona Immigration Law Target of Lawsuit by Civil Rights Groups

The constitutionality of Arizona's controversial immigration law will be put to the test in a lawsuit filed by major civil rights groups.

The American Civil Liberties Union, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People are among groups that filed the case in U.S. District Court, The Associated Press reported.

Plaintiffs also include labor unions, a Tucson church, social service organizations and numerous individuals. They argue that the law is unconstitutional because the federal government, not states, has the responsibility to regulate immigration. The suit also alleges enforcing the Arizona measure will violate protections for due process and equal treatment under the law.

County attorneys and sheriffs in Arizona's 15 counties were named as defendants.

It's the fifth legal challenge filed since Gov. Jan Brewer signed the legislation, which requires police to check the immigration status of people suspected to be in the country illegally. It's scheduled to take effect in July.