Arizona Appeals Lower Courts’ Ruling on SB1070 to the Supreme Court

The state of Arizona, led by Gov. Jan Brewer, has filed an appeal with
the United States Supreme Court, asking the court to consider the lower
federal court rulings regarding its 2010 immigration-enforcement law. An
Arizona federal district court and the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of
Appeals ruled that certain provisions of Arizona’s law usurp federal
immigration enforcement efforts.

Specifically, both of the lower courts ruled that police could not be required to ask for proof of immigration status when they come in contact with someone who they have reasonable suspicion to believe they are in the country illegally.

“For too long the federal government has turned a blind eye as this problem has manifested itself in the form of drop houses in our neighborhoods and crime in our communities,” Brewer said in a written statement. “(The law) was Arizona’s way of saying that we won’t wait patiently for federal action any longer. If the federal government won’t enforce its immigration laws, we will.”

The law was first challenged by the U.S. Department of Justice shortly after Gov. Brewer signed the bill into law. A federal district judge ruled against the law’s provisions pertaining to police inquiring about immigration status and requiring legal permanent residents to carry their green cards at all times. That ruling was upheld by the Ninth Circuit Court.

The Justice Department recently sued the state of Alabama after the state passed a law similar to Arizona’s SB1070.