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BIRMINGHAM, AL (AP) - A federal appeals court has ruled that part of Alabama's tough immigration law that ordered public schools to check the citizenship status of new students is unconstitutional.

The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Monday that the provision wrongly singles out children who are in the country illegally.

Alabama was the only state that passed such a requirement. The 11th Circuit says a lower court should have blocked that part of the law.

The court separately says Alabama police can continue checking immigration documents for people they stop.

Both private groups and the Obama administration filed lawsuits to block the law considered the toughest in the country.

The 11th Circuit was the first appeals court to consider the schools provision.