WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court threw out key provisions of Arizona's crackdown on illegal immigrants Monday but said a much-debated portion could go forward — that police must check the status of people stopped for various reasons who might appear to be in the U.S. illegally.
The court upheld the "show me your papers" requirement, but even there the justices said the provision could be subject to additional legal challenges. And they removed some teeth by prohibiting officers from arresting people on immigration charges.
The Obama administration had assailed the Arizona law as an unconstitutional intrusion into an area under Washington's control, and the court struck down provisions that would have made state crimes out of federal immigration violations.
But several lawmakers and civil rights groups said the part of the law left in place by the high court was an invitation to racial profiling.
The court announced that Thursday would be the last day of rulings this term, which means the decision on President Barack Obama's landmark health care overhaul probably will come that day.
The Arizona decision landed in the middle of a presidential campaign in which Obama has been heavily courting Latino voters and Republican challenger Mitt Romney has been struggling to win Latino support. During a drawn-out primary campaign, Romney and the other GOP candidates mostly embraced a hard line on illegal immigrants, though Romney has lately taken a softer tone.
Obama said he was pleased that the court struck down key parts of Arizona's law but concerned about what the high court left intact.
"No American should ever live under a cloud of suspicion just because of what they look like," the president said in a written statement. He said police in Arizona should not enforce the provision in a way that undermines civil rights
Kind of like going through a checkpoint on I-35? Is that racial profiling? Don't see LULAC up there protesting?
ReplyDeleteEven Laredo PD turns illegals over to ICE, so get over it.
Get over it? They voted against 3/4 of SB1070.
ReplyDeleteNow DHS has ordered that their agents will not take calls from Arizona police on issues of immigration. Great...what if they stopped a terrorist, and they just let the go. Good move DHS.
ReplyDeletePS, USDept of Justice has set up a "hotline" to report abuse by the police. Yep, call DOJ and report a cop who pissed you off. That will be interesting.
Why is it not racial profiling if a border patrol officer pulls you over and ask your immigration status and it is racial profiling if a police officer, who has stopped/detained you for another reason, ask you your status?
ReplyDeleteIs the federal government incapable of racial profiling? Anon earlier is right, where is LULAC at the checkpoints?
I guess the border patrol should do its work AT THE BORDER and not 10,15 miles and upward of that from the border. But I'm guessing checking one's immigration status is related to protecting the border more than a police office who is making sure people are following a city's or state's laws -as opposed to immigration laws.
ReplyDelete