The Hill News

Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) predicted Wednesday the focal point of his state’s controversial immigration law will withstand a legal challenge from the U.S. government. 

The second-ranking Senate Republican told Fox News he thinks the portion that permits law enforcement agents to ask for identification from people they suspect are illegal immigrants, as long as they are apprehended for other reasons, will survive. 

“It’s my opinion that she will not enjoin that portion of the law,” he said. 

A federal judge in Arizona is expected to rule Wednesday on whether or not the law should stand. The Department of Justice challenged the law, which could go into effect Thursday, arguing it would lead to a patchwork of immigration laws around the country and could lead to ethnic profiling. 

Kyl, who supports the law, said other portions of the law could be struck down, though he did not specify which ones. 

“My guess is that she will parse the law, that is to say she will perhaps extract certain portions of it that she think might be problematic and might enjoin those portions calling additional briefings from the parties,” he said.