Golden Sun eXtra Your Local News Source, Mohave County, AZ

The showdown over Arizona's immigration law played out in court and in the streets of Phoenix on Thursday. The state sought to reinstate key parts of the measure and angry protesters chanted that they refused to "live in fear." Dozens were arrested.

A federal judge's decision a day earlier to block the strict law's most controversial elements didn't dampen the raging immigration debate.

The judge has reportedly received hundreds of threats. Protesters rallied in cities from Los Angeles to New York. The sheriff of the state's most populous county vowed to continue targeting illegal immigrants. Lawmakers or candidates in as many as 18 states say they still want to push similar measures.

Along the U.S.-Mexico border, life continued as before, with officials sending back hundreds of people who were captured while attempting to cross.

In Phoenix, hundreds of the law's opponents massed at a downtown jail, beating on the metal door and forcing sheriff's deputies to call for backup. Officers in riot gear opened the doors, arrested many, and more were detained elsewhere.

Activists focused their rage at Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, 78, ex-federal drug agent. Outside his downtown office, marchers chanted "Sheriff Joe, we are here. We will not live in fear," claiming they do not have to obey U.S. laws.

In Tucson, between 50 and 100 people on both sides of the issue gathered at a street corner. About 200 protesters blocked a busy Los Angeles intersection, with police arrested about a dozen who were linked with plastic pipes and chains.

Since Wednesday's ruling, U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton has received thousands of phone calls and e-mails. Some were positive, but others were "from people venting and who have expressed their displeasure in a perverted way," said David Gonzales, the U.S. Marshal for Arizona.

The protests came as Gov. Jan Brewer appealed Bolton's ruling to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco. Brewer, who hired lawyers to defend the law in court, hopes the court will act quickly, saying illegal immigration remains an ongoing crisis.

Arizona has more than 400,000 illegal immigrants, and its border with Mexico is awash with smugglers who funnel narcotics and immigrants throughout the U.S. The law's supporters say the influx of illegal migrants drains vast sums of money from hospitals, education and other services.

Along the U.S.-Mexico border in punishing temperatures of more than 100 degrees Thursday, two immigrants climbed a fence and fled on foot, while a third threw rocks in the direction of Border Patrol agents. The officers arrested them. New deportees congregated around Nogales.

The Obama administration has decided to send National Guard troops to the border states to help federal agents with security. The Arizona National Guard officials say they hope to have 524 troops in place by the end of September. Troops are expected to arrive at the border in New Mexico and Texas by mid-August, and California officials have estimated an Oct. 1 deadline to have troops fully deployed there.

The Justice Department launched an investigation of his office nearly 17 months ago over allegations of discrimination and unconstitutional searches and seizures. Although the department has declined to detail its investigation, Arpaio believes it centers on his sweeps.

The elements of the new law that took effect on Thursday will likely aid Arpaio in his immigration efforts. Critics say deputies racially profile Hispanics. Arpaio says deputies approach people only when they have probable cause.

In her temporary injunction, Bolton delayed the most contentious provisions of the law, including a section that required officers to check a person's immigration status while enforcing other laws. Bolton indicated the federal government's case has a good chance at succeeding in its argument that federal immigration law trumps state law.

Bolton allowed police to enforce the law's bans on blocking vehicle traffic when seeking or offering day-labor services and a revision to the smuggling ban that lets officers stop drivers if they suspect motorists have broken traffic laws. She also let officers enforce a new prohibition on driving or harboring illegal immigrants in furtherance of their illegal presence.

Opponents of the law said the ruling sends a strong message to other states hoping to replicate the law. That is a positive point.

But a Republican lawmaker in Utah said the state will likely take up a similar law anyway when their legislative sessions start up again in 2011.

"The ruling ... should not be a reason for Utah to not move forward," Utah state Rep. Carl Wimmer said.

A FOX News poll on Wednesday resulted in over 97% of Americans in favor of the Arizona immigration law.

The Mohave County Sheriff's Office says that all deputies have already been trained on the new law that became effictive on Thursday.

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