‘Show Your Papers’ Law Upheld By Arizona Judge

Police in Arizona can continue to ask for identification from anyone who looks like an illegal immigrant. District Court Judge Susan Bolton ruled on Thursday that the law’s challengers failed to show proof that they were likely to prevail based on the merits of their lawsuit.

Judge Bolton then noted that the court case could be left open for future challenges should a better argument be raised.

Under the “show your papers” law, police can stop any of the state’s citizens and ask for their American identification documents. The law was put into place in order to go after the states estimated 360,000 undocumented immigrants.

Officially known as SB 1070, Judge Bolton did issue an injunction against the bills section that makes it a crime to “transport, shield or harbor an illegal immigrant within Arizona’s borders.”

Arizona Republican Governor Jan Brewer signed the state bill into effect in April 2010 after complaining that the federal government did almost nothing to protect American borders.

After Wednesday’s ruling and the injunction over a small part of the bill, Brewer said Arizona was now “one big step closer to implementing the core provision of SB 1070.”

Brewer further added:

“With this provision, Arizona makes a clear statement that it will not tolerate sanctuary city policies, and will now have thousands of additional officers to collaborate with the federal government as state and local law enforcement do what they always have: enforce the law.”

Opponents in the meantime continue to claim that the bill is tantamount to racial profiling, specifically against Hispanics which make up a third of Arizona’s 6.5 million people.