A federal judge on Thursday blocked three key provisions of South Carolina's controversial law cracking down on illegal immigration. U.S. District Judge Richard Gergel granted the federal government's request for an injunction against the law that's set to take effect Jan. 1. The ruling applies to portions that require law officers to check the status of anyone they stop for something else and suspect is in the country illegally. Gergel also halted the implementation of sections pertaining to the transportation of illegal immigrants and immigrant registration cards. Gergel has denied the state's request that he suspend all court hearings
