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A U.S. judge has blocked the most controversial provisions of a new immigration law in the southwestern state of Arizona, after the federal government challenged the measure.

The judge Wednesday blocked a part of the law that requires police to check the immigration status of any person they stop for a violation, and who they suspect is in the country illegally.

Judge Susan Bolton also put on hold a provision requiring immigrants to carry documentation at all times, and a measure that made it illegal for undocumented immigrants to seek work in public places.

The U.S. Justice Department said Bolton ruled "correctly." But Arizona Governor Jan Brewer said she plans to appeal the ruling. She accused the federal government of failing to address immigration problems in her state.

Provisions of the law not blocked by Bolton's ruling will go into effect in Arizona at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday.

U.S. Justice Department spokeswoman Hannah August said state and local policies similar to Arizona's would "seriously disrupt" federal immigration enforcement and ultimately be "counterproductive." Other opponents of the law said it could lead to racial profiling by police.

Bolton's ruling came in response to a legal challenge by the federal government. Washington argued that immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility, and that provisions in the law are pre-empted by federal law.

U.S. President Barack Obama has called the Arizona law "misguided."

Some illegal immigrants left Arizona ahead of Thursday's scheduled implementation of the law, while businesses in Phoenix that cater to the mostly Hispanic immigrant population say huge drops in sales will force them to close.

Some legal immigrants in Arizona say they will also leave the state, either because their businesses are losing clients or because they no longer feel welcome.

Brewer signed the law in April in hopes of stemming the flood of illegal immigrants from Mexico. Arizona officials say the influx has led to a spike in crime, including drug trafficking and kidnapping. (voa)