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CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) -- A federal judge is considering whether some aspects of South Carolina's tough new immigration law should take effect.

U.S. District Judge Richard Gergel heard two hours of arguments in Charleston on Tuesday. Last year, he blocked most of the law from taking effect but since then, the U.S. Supreme Court has tossed out much of the Arizona law on which the South Carolina law was based.

But the Supreme Court upheld an Arizona provision allowing police to check the immigration status of those they pull over if they are suspected of being in the country illegally.

Much of Tuesday's arguments centered on that issue with Gergel wondering how long a motorist can be detained while his status is checked. The judge said he will rule in a few days.