Updated at 5:30 p.m. to add more links.

Arizona’s controversial new law against illegal immigrants takes effect today, but at the last minute, a federal judge blocked the section of SB 1070 requiring police to check on someone’s immigration status while enforcing other laws — the portion that critics, including vocal evangelical Christians, Catholics and other faith-based leaders, have argued will lead to racial profiling and discrimination.

It’s only a preliminary injuction. Meanwhile, rallies and protests are still scheduled for today, as faith leaders flock to Arizona and some undocumented people flee the state. My prediction, especially after reading the Associated Press story, is that all this will end up in the Supreme Court’s hands… eventually. Stay tuned for more headlines until then.

Some links to the religion-related coverage:

• Arizona injunction wins praise (JTA)
• Judge partially blocks Arizona’s controversial immigration law; prayer vigils to proceed as planned (Episcopal News Service)
• Why Judge Susan Bolton blocked key parts of Arizona’s SB 1070 (Christian Science Monitor)
• With ruling, battle over Arizona immigration law enters new phase (Christian Science Monitor)
• Ariz. Catholic bishops praise ruling against immigration law measures (Catholic News Agency)
• Faith leaders rally against impending Arizona law (New America Media)

What do you think? Share your thoughts and other links — I’ll keep adding to this post throughout the day — in the Comments section below. 

*Click here to subscribe to Belief Beat and click here to follow Belief Beat on Twitter.