Alabama's immigration law blocked

Alabama's new immigration law, considered one of the strictest state laws thus far, has been temporarily blocked by a federal judge:
CNN Story

This is one in a growing list of states who are attempting to implement state level laws in the face of federal level inaction.  However, many provisions have been blocked in courts as noted in the following article:
List of State Immigration Laws Blocked in Federal Court Grows Longer

Starting up again...

August has been more difficult than expected and I have a new cause you can check out on Facebook:  1000-Miles-for-Madeline

In the meantime, Europeans are still working through the implications of the July Norway shootings, including this interesting article from Der Spiegel International:
http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,781577,00.html#ref=nlint
and the New York Times:
Where History Casts a Fearsome Shadow, Murmurings About the Far Right

Next week is the annual meeting of the American Political Science Association in one of my former home towns, Seattle, Washington.  I'll be blogging from there on the issues and topics that stand out on the immigration front.  I will be presenting a paper on the role of networks in the passage and implementation of the European Union's racial equality directive.

Here's some of the latest from the U.S. on immigration, particularly related to the administration's new deportation policy:
Meant to Ease Fears of Deportation Program, Federal Hearings Draw Anger
U.S. Issues New Deportation Policy’s First Reprieves
Napolitano-defends-new-deportation-rules

More on the far right

I have been on vacation the last few weeks, but will be back to blogging regularly this week.

Today's article from the associated press discusses the far right fringes in Europe

It's important to keep in mind that Islam has only recently (in the last 15 years or so) become a major focus for the far right, as well as other groups that cannot be classified.  Immigrants, people of color, and Jews have been ongoing targets of violence and discrimination over the years.  However, it is also important to keep in mind that Breivik targeted the current Norwegian government and his fellow countrymen.  Nothing justifies this type of violence and the goal seems to be changing the system, rather than targeting the small Muslim minority in the country.  Brievik's actions have shined a light on the far right, but there are many issues underlying his actions (besides madness) and the positions that different groups take that tolerate or advocate violence.  Clearly we need more understanding and analysis of these issues, including the politics that have developed around the immigration issue.