An Arizona judge dismissed the final challenge to the state’s controversial Senate Bill 1070 immigration law. However, it’s opponents refuse to back down.

Federal Judge Susan R. Bolton upheld a part of SB 1070 that’s come to be known as the “show your papers” section of a law that discriminates against Hispanics and other immigrants. The upheld section allows Arizona police and law enforcement officials to document the race of every person they stop – even if a citation isn’t issued. Bolton ruled that opposing activists failed to provide evidence that shows police would enforce the law differently for Hispanics than they do for others. Bolton also upheld a section that allows law enforcement to check whether or not a detainee is in The States legally or not. All SB 1070 laws targeting day laborers were voided.

The high court’s verdict ruled in Arizona v. United States:

“As a general rule, it is not a crime for a removable alien to remain present in the [United States]. If the police stop someone based on nothing more than possible removability, the usual predicate for an arrest is absent.”

Activists say a database of traffic and small stops will prove racial profiling is a problem for Arizona, with Bolton’s ruling coming only two days after another federal judge dismissed a lawsuit against Sheriff Joe Arpaio – accused of discrimination.

SB 2010 was sponsored in 2010 by former Arizona state Senator Russell Pearce. “She made it very clear the law was written very carefully not to be a race issue. It’s not a racial law,” said Pearce.

Whether or not challengers will appeal Bolton’s ruling is still uncertain. Legal Director of the National Immigration Law Center – part of the suit – says the opposition is evaluating current options. “We will continue working on behalf of our courageous plaintiffs to show that Arizona can do better than this disgraceful law,” she said.