( CNN ) -- The ink had barely dried on the order signed by Judge Sharon Lovelace Blackburn , allowing most of Alabama 's anti-illegal immigration law to go into effect , when fear settled into some in the state 's Hispanic community . `` We are in panic mode , '' said Maria Morales , an illegal immigrant living in Montgomery . The law known as HB56 is the strictest in the country , allowing police officers to ask about the legal status of people investigated for a crime , if reasonable suspicion exists , and detain them for immigration authorities . `` We can not even go out and buy food , '' said Perla Perez , who has lived in Alabama for the past five years without legal status . The law also requires public schools to ask about the legal status of children born in foreign countries and that of their parents . `` I 'm not afraid for myself , '' said Perez , who has two U.S.-born children . `` If they want to deport me , that is fine . But then what would happen to my children ? Who will take care of them ? '' The state said 1,171 Hispanic students were absent Wednesday , before official word of the immigration law . On Friday , after word of the new law , there were 1,988 absences in Alabama , an increase of 817 students , the state said . Tom Salter , spokesman for the Montgomery School District , said 200 children skipped school Thursday , the day the law went into effect . He said that number dropped to 100 Friday . Salter said their English-as-a-second-language department has reached out to about 400 of the estimated 1,200 Hispanic children enrolled in the system to encourage them to continue going to school . Larry Craven , the interim superintendent of the Alabama Department of Education , said in a news conference Friday that schools will comply with the law , checking the status of new students , but that nobody will be denied an education . Morales said that like herself , her children are undocumented , and she is afraid of the consequences of sending them to school . `` They are going to investigate us through our children , '' she said . Late Friday , the U.S. Department of Justice and the other plaintiffs filed a motion to enjoin the law until the 11th District Court in Atlanta has a chance to review the appeal . Judge Lovelace Blackburn has set a Tuesday evening deadline for all the parties to file the necessary arguments before proceeding . State Sen. Scott Beason said the ruling is a victory for the state of Alabama because it allowed most of the law to go into effect . `` We expect people to be here in the state of Alabama legally . We have open arms , we have all the hospitality we can muster for the people who come to the state of Alabama legally . But if you are here illegally , it 's going to be a challenge , '' he said . Some immigrants are also planning for the worst . The owner of a Mexican food store , who asked not to be identified because he came to the United States illegally , was worried that he could not stay open . His business license expired last Friday , and he worries that he wo n't be able to renew it because now , he would be required to show a state-issued ID , which he does n't have . He said he has asked a friend to file the proper paperwork so she can take care of their children in case he or his wife is deported . But even if he stays in business , he 's facing tougher times . He says sales dropped by half after HB56 was first introduced and dropped even more when it was signed . `` Sometimes , we do n't have enough money to pay our bills , so my wife has to take a job cleaning houses so we can make ends meet , '' he said . Late Thursday , a rumor began circulating among neighbors in a trailer park where many Hispanics live . In a few minutes , streets emptied and people called friends and family to warn them of a potential threat that never came .
HB56 could let police ask about legal status of people investigated for crime , detain them . Perla Perez : `` I 'm not afraid for myself . ... But then what would happen to my children ? '' The bill is being pushed by the Texas Police Chiefs Association, which has been pushing similar legislation in other states. Owner of a food store who came to the U.S. illegally worries that he ca n't stay open .