The U.S. Supreme Court this morning tossed out most of the provisions of Arizona’s immigration law, although it left one key provision in effect that allows police to check the immigration status of those they’ve detained.
According to the Washington Post…
The court ruled that Arizona cannot make it a misdemeanor for immigrants to fail to carry identification that says whether they are in the United States legally; cannot make it a crime for undocumented immigrations to apply for a job; and cannot arrest someone based solely on the suspicion that the person is in this country illegally.
The most contentious provision–allowing police to check the immigration status of suspects if they have reasonable suspicion they are here illegally–was upheld, however.
Justice Kennedy wrote the 5-3 majority opinion that federal law pursuant to the Constitution’s supremacy clause preempted Arizona’s immigration enforcement statute, S.B. 1070 (Kagan recused herself), concluding that “Arizona may have understandable frustrations with the problems caused by illegal immigration while that process continues, but the State may not pursue policies that undermine federal law.”
Justice Scalia, in a dissenting opinion, wrote in part:
Arizona has moved to protect its sovereignty—not in contradiction of federal law, but in complete compliance with it. The laws under challenge here do not extend or revise federal immigration restrictions, but merely enforce those restrictions more effectively. If securing its territory in this fashion is not within the power of Arizona, we should cease referring to it as a sovereign State. I dissent.
Here is some of CNN’s initial coverage as the news was breaking:
Look for the highly anticipated ruling on ObamaCare on Thursday.
THE LAST CHANCE FOR AMERICA.
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court released their opinion Today that the federal government has the sole power to enforce the laws against illegal immigration, striking down three key provisions of Arizona's first-in-the nation crackdown on illegal aliens squatting there and stealing our children’s education, American family health care and a cornucopia of welfare payments and programs. ONLY THE TEA PARTY CAN SAVE US NOW. THE TEA PARTY IS EVERY WALK OF LIFE, EVERY RACE, & EVERY RELIGION THAT HAVE HAD IT WITH THE TWO POLITICAL PARTIES. ID YOU DON’T WANT A SOCIALIST FUTURE, EVERY AMERICAN WHO HAS NEVER VOTED—SHOULD VOTE. NON-CITIZENS WILL VOTE TO SAVE OBAMA.
Frustrated, angry with the Republicans and Democrats, then join the TEA PARTY organization. The growing numbers of millions of Americans are joining this party, spreading its wings away from the Republican enclave. Both political parties are corrupt and all incumbents need to be replaced, which is happening now. We can no longer afford to support the rest of the world, or the 20 million plus illegal aliens living in the United States that has brought their poverty with them. HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS ARE BEING SIPHONED FROM STATES AND THE TAXPAYERS POCKETS.
By replacing President Obama administration, plus replacing the Republicans and Democrats in the Senate and the Ho House of Representative and seating in ‘THE PEOPLE’S Constitutional TEA PARTY, we can win America back Millions more will be encouraged to come here, bringing their poverty, criminals and children stealing their futures. WE ARE LOSING OUR COUNTRY, OUR LIBERTIES AND OUR U.S. CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.
It is of the paramount importance that we must be imposed at once, so no more foreign invaders are encouraged to break the immigration ‘Rule of Law’. ‘THE LEGAL WORKFORCE ACT’ (E-VERIFY) must be passed and advanced, so illegal aliens can no longer steal jobs from the millions of Americans unemployed. The ‘BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP ACT (H.R.140) must be compulsory so babies smuggled into America, so that parents cannot take benefit from welfare, once the child become an immediate citizen. Half a million pregnant women enter the United States looking for handouts annually, for their children. Let your Senator or Congressman/Women know how you will vote, by giving your name to the politician’s aides and that you want them to sponsor E-Verify and the Birthright Citizenship bills. Citizen voters should phone Congress at the central Switchboard at 202-224-3121. FORCE YOUR CONGRESSMAN/WOMAN TO fulfill their obligation to the oath of office and stop pandering to the businesses that use cheap labor. Use the power of your VOTE to demand they sponsor these to policies or we are destined to become like Europe, overwhelmed by the poverty of other countries.