[Tallguy]

The law marks an unprecedented effort by a state to take immigration matters into its own hands since immigration offenses are currently violations of federal law that cannot be enforced by local police.

Funny. The Feds didn't make that argument when certain US cities declaired themselves "sanctuary cities" ten years ago or so. I guess you can only pre-empt federal law in pursuit of a "progressive cause?"

[Natural Born 54]

It’s also a false statement.

From comment #3 above (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2500798/posts?page=3#3):

Federal Immigration and Nationality Act
Section 8 USC 1324(a)(1)(A)(iv)(b)(iii)

State and local law enforcement officials have the general power to investigate and arrest violators of federal immigration statutes without prior INS knowledge or approval, as long as they are authorized to do so by state law.

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Now that they have a state law that grants the legal authority, it is perfectly legal according to Federal law for them to enforce immigration law locally via local police.