just the first legal skirmish. An Appeal is certain.
Democrats think they won it, but it will hurt them politically as it stirs up the opponents (a majority), who will get more fiercely vocal and organized, and those Democratic politicians will be forced to defend their (minority) positions in public again.
and some poor law by the judge in this case will hurt it on appeal.
the judge transmuted the concept of Federal laws preempting local laws to federal law enforcement actions being preempted. AZ isn't preempting any federal laws, just getting them enforced.
The judge spoke of the burden on the federal agencies, but she heard, and ignored, plenty testimony to the contrary.
Here's one, starting at #40.
The judge then invokes and mis-applies an old case on this subject from 1941, all the while not mentioning the more recent decisions:
Plyler v. Doe (1982), the Supreme Court wrote:
"we cannot conclude that the States are without power to deter the influx of persons entering the United States against federal law, and whose numbers might have a discernible impact on traditional state concerns"
and 5th circuit appeals, in Lynch v. Cannatella (1987): "No statute precludes other federal, state, or local law enforcement agencies from taking other action to enforce this nation's immigration laws."