The US Supreme Court upheld a key part of Arizona's crackdown on illegal immigrants.
A section of the US-Mexico border fence near Yuma, Arizona
Three of the four challenges brough up by the Obama administration were upheld by the court.
The US government had argued the law infringed on federal rights to oversee immigration policy - five other states have adopted versions of the Arizona law.
But it said that one much-debated part of the law could go forward - the portion requiring police to check the status of someone they suspect is not in the United States legally. Even there, though, the justices said the provision could be subject to additional legal challenges.
The decision upholds the "show me your papers" provision for the moment. But it takes the teeth out of it by prohibiting police officers from arresting people on minor immigration charges.
Justice Kennedy wrote the opinion for the court that was unanimous on allowing the status check to go forward. The court was divided on striking down the other portions.
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