No more Arpaio/Montgomery workplace raids? Good.

Another bad state law, one that tried to preempt federal immigration law and caused nothing but needless human suffering and unnecessary taxpayer expense has been tossed by a federal court.

Good.

This time, federal Judge David Campbell put a halt to workplace raids conducted by Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's deputies, actions supported by Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery.

This type of overly aggressive law goes back to the administration of then-Gov. Janet Napolitano, who signed one of the bills, saying, "Immigration is a federal responsibility, but I signed House Bill 2779 because it is abundantly clear that Congress finds itself incapable of coping with the comprehensive immigration reforms our country needs."

A group that included Puente Arizona, the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona, the National Day Laborer Organizing Network filed a lawsuit saying in part, "Arizona's passage of laws to penalize undocumented workers' use of false or fictitious identities to 'obtain or continue employment' directly intrudes upon the federal government's exclusive authority in the (federally created) employment verification process."

The group argued that "the Constitution grants the federal government exclusive, plenary power over immigration matters…"

The judge agreed.

His ruling reads in part: "The Court also finds that the public interest favors an injunction. The public has little interest in the enforcement of laws that are unconstitutional. … Plaintiffs have shown that they are likely to succeed on the merits, that they are likely to suffer irreparable harm in the absence of a preliminary injunction, and that the balance of equities and public interest favor an injunction."

Arpaio and Montgomery tried to get the lawsuit dismissed.

Instead, the judge has shut down the raids.

In a press release, Dan Pochoda, senior counsel for the ACLU of Arizona said, "This comprehensive and careful court order should be the final nail in the coffin for these unconstitutional raids."

A lot of needless suffering and expense occurred while the law was being enforced. It did nothing to curb illegal immigration but a lot to besmirch the image of Arizona. The judge's order doesn't come in time for some of those impacted by the law, but it's a good thing for those trying to lure businesses to Arizona. Luckily for us, the ruling didn't come down during Super Bowl week, when the national media will be focusing again on Arizona. They'd have jumped at the chance to put a ranting and raving Arpaio in front of the cameras. Again.

Not that public relations should take precedent over human suffering.

But sadly, somehow, it almost always does.