“Lawyers for the state of Arizona lodged an appeal Thursday against an injunction blocking much of the state’s controversial new immigration law as about 50 demonstrators were arrested.

The injunction blocked the most controversial sections of the law from taking effect as the rest of the law came into force on Thursday.

But tensions were still high as protesters marched through the streets of Arizona’s capital Phoenix sparking a confrontation with police – many of whom were patrolling in full riot gear.

At least two dozen of them were arrested when they blocked the street outside the headquarters of the Maricopa County sheriff.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio strongly supported the law and has pledged to continue his crackdown on undocumented immigrants despite the injunction.

Another 25 people were held at the county jail after chaining themselves to the entrance of the lock-up to protest the earlier arrests, Arpaio said at a press conference.

Former Arizona senator Alfredo Gutierrez was handcuffed when he tried to enter the federal court in Phoenix in an act of civil disobedience.”

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