Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer is asking the state legislature to consider changing the state's controversial immigration law so that police officers can question the immigration status of suspects.

Brewer spokesman Paul Senseman said Friday that the governor called the Senate president and speaker of the House of Representatives on Thursday to explore ways to alter the immigration law, a large portion of which was struck down a day earlier by U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton.

The law, known as S.B. 1070 after the bill that created it, would have required police officers to question the immigration status of suspects stopped for another offense if there is a "reasonable suspicion" they are in the country illegally. That was one of the provisions struck down by Bolton Wednesday when she issued a preliminary injunction that halted enforcement of the law.

Bolton noted the state's concerns about illegal immigration but said enforcement of the provisions "would likely burden legal resident aliens and interfere with federal policy."

Brewer filed an appeal with the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday, asking the court to set aside Bolton's ruling. Senseman said they are also exploring changes to the law, which could require a special session since the Arizona Legislature does not reconvene until January.

"Both of the members were very interested in it," Senseman said.

Senate President Bob Burns said he'd need to know a lot more before he supports holding a special session.

The issue led to demonstrations across the country Thursday, including one directed at Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio in Phoenix, in which protesters beat on the metal door of a jail and chanted, "Sheriff Joe, we are here. We will not live in fear."