Photo Credit: AP Photo/ M. Spencer Green
A federal court based in Phoenix blocked the full implementation of Arizona’s controversial SB 1070 law, which would allow/require police to demand “proof” from people who they suspect to be “unlawfully present” in the United States.
When SB 1070 was first announced, minority groups immediately expressed their outrage and sought to prevent the law from being implemented, on the grounds that it is unconstitutional and would promote racism and discrimination.
Today’s ruling ensures that Arizona will not be able to enforce the law until the court’s final order, allowing the civil rights coalition, which includes the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) and the Asian Pacific American Legal Center (APALC), to continue its suit to repeal the law altogether without worrying about police action in the meantime. The law is now going into effect tomorrow, but with severe limitations.
According to a press release from MALDEF, “the court did not strike down the provision that forbids local police agencies from adopting policies that limit or restrict enforcement of federal immigration laws, or the provision that permits Arizona residents to sue government agencies for adopting a policy restricting enforcement of immigration law. The court also left in place certain provisions related to day laborers, citing a recent Ninth Circuit decision in which en banc review is being sought.”
Linton Joaquin, General Counsel of NILC, said, “With today’s ruling, Judge Bolton indicated that the plaintiffs are likely to prevail in their constitutional challenge to SB 1070. SB 1070 is a dangerous enactment that threatens the fundamental rights of countless Arizonans and visitors. Other states following in Arizona’s misguided footsteps should consider themselves forewarned: attempts to trample on the rights of communities of color in this country must not be permitted. We look forward to showing, through our lawsuit, that this pernicious law should be taken off Arizona’s books permanently.”
