The U.S. Supreme Court will begin to hear arguments in the Arizona Immigration Law case today to decide the constitutionality of this law and to bring light to the potential need for restructuration of the nation’s immigration system.
“This decision will make very clear what the law is when it comes to immigration,” says SEIU International Secretary-Treasurer Eliseo Medina. “It will make clear whether we’ll have a patchwork of laws around the country that are based on politics and ideological considerations rather than good public policy.”
As previously reported on La Plaza, since the passing of Arizona’s SB 1070, five other states have passed similar laws – Utah, Indiana, Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina. Other states that have considered taking similar action are awaiting the Supreme Court’s ruling before moving forward.
“There’s a lot at stake. All eyes are on what the Supreme Court does,” said Karen Tumlin, attorney for the National Immigration Center.
The longevity and impact of the existing laws weighs on the decision of the Supreme Court.
“If it’s upheld there are strong arguments that Georgia could do whatever it wants on immigration,” says Charles Kuck, Attorney General of Georgia.
As previously reported on La Plaza, Alabama’s immigration law has currently been put on hold until a ruling is issued by the Supreme Court. “Our fates are intertwined with those of Arizona’s because the laws we passed are similar with those being contested by or disputed by the federal government,” says Alan Wilson, South Carolina’s Attorney General.
Was stopped by the Border Patrol in Eagle Pass, Texas for making a u-turn on the road to Del Rio a couple of months ago when visiting my parents.
I was told I was stopped because I was near the Rio Grande river.
How will it be determined who gets stopped?