A federal judge on Monday will hear arguments for and against South Carolina’s tough new immigration law while pro-immigrant groups gather and pray that the measure will not enter into force on Jan. 1.

In a courtroom in the federal courthouse in Charleston, Judge Richard Gergel, will allow both sides to present their cases at a hearing, but no definitive decision is expected to be reached on Monday.

The Justice Department and a group of organizations led by the American Civil Liberties Union filed separate lawsuits in October seeking to overturn legislation they consider to be discriminatory, unconstitutional and certain to promote racial profiling.

Republican Gov. Nikki Haley signed SB 20 on June 27, a law that emulates Arizona’s SB 1070 by authorizing police to investigate the immigration status of people they stop for any reason.