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Just one day before Arizona’s new immigration enforcement law, SB1070, was to take effect, a federal Judge in Phoenix has blocked the most controversial provisions in the law from taking effect.
Judge Susan Bolton’s ruling prohibits local police from questioning a person’s immigration status even if they have “reasonable suspicion” that a person is in the country illegally.
Her ruling also blocks the provision that would have required immigrants to carry immigration papers on their person at all times. This is important because even if a person was here legally or an American citizen, just because they looked Hispanic would have perhaps involved them as well. Or perhaps may have invited the all inclusive “reasonable suspicion” in their dealings with local police; thereby requiring them to prove their citizenship.
Daniel Sanchez, President of a Lubbock based grassroots organization known as Citizens United in Discourse against Discrimination, welcomed the judges ruling and told El Editor that “While United States District Court Judge Susan Bolton’s blocking of some provisions of the Arizona law is a step in the right direction, work remains to be done. We cannot as someone at last night’s vigil said, “Become complacent, rest on our laurels and stop voting”. Now is the time to go forth and make sure such laws never see the light of day, said Sanchez.
In her ruling, Judge Bolton stated that “By enforcing this statute, Arizona would impose a ‘distinct, unusual and extraordinary’ burden on legal resident aliens that only the federal government has the authority to impose.”
Arizona officials were quick to react, indicating that they would probably appeal the judge’s ruling.
By all indications though, the case will in all probability end up as a legal battle between federal and states rights at the US Supreme Court.
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