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| Nora Nendivin (R) hugs with Marcela Saragoza in front of the Capitol Museum in Phoenix, Arizona State, the United States, July 28, 2010. The federal regional court announced that four provisions of the controversial Arizona state migratory law SB1070 had been banned on Thursday. (Xinhua/Qi Heng) |
She said the ruling in no way disregarded Arizona's efforts to control illegal immigration into the state, however, it could not allow enforcement of preempted laws.
Nendivin, who has lived in the U.S. for 35 years, said she knew very well what pain the immigrants from Mexico and other Central American countries were suffering by separation from their families.
When the ruling came out, an atmosphere of solace, relief and elation enveloped the crowd on the lush lawn in front of Arizona State Capitol Museum.
Protesters burst into cries as the ruling was announced.
Many of them ascribed the ruling to President Barack Obama, saying he threw his weight behind immigrants.
A drove of young women recited in unison: "Yes We Can! Yes We Can! Yes We Can!" -- a slogan coined by Obama when he was campaigning for the U.S. presidency.
After night fell, hundreds of people kept singing and dancing in a vigil that would last throughout the night.
At 4:30 a.m. Thursday, a large-scale demonstration will be held as planned near a local police department headquarters. Another is planned for the afternoon in front of a prison.
"We have a small victory. We need to continue to fight," an activist said.
