The Obama administration has asked an appeals court to halt the strict, new immigration law in Alabama.

The Justice Department says the law is driving immigrants from Alabama, and invites discrimination against foreign-born people who are legally in the state.

The motion was filed Friday in the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

A federal judge has already upheld two provisions of the law — one that allows police to detain anyone suspected of being in the country illegally when that person is stopped for any other reason, and the other to allow schools to check the immigration status of students in public schools.

Supporters of the law say the tough measures are necessary to stop illegal immigration, protect jobs and enforce laws. But civil rights groups say the law invites racial profiling and harassment for anyone who looks foreign.

The Justice Department says the law conflicts with federal immigration policies.