Supreme Court made serious mistake
The dangerous ruling the U.S. Supreme Court issued yesterday -upholding the most controversial provision of Arizona’s SB 1070, which allows the state to use its police to request papers from those suspected of being undocumented- signals increased hostility against immigrants. Today, it is clearer than ever that comprehensive immigration reform is urgently overdue.
The Court warned that no one should be stopped on the street only because they look immigrant, suggesting that the provision can be challenged in cases of abuse. But the warning pales against a decision that opens the door to unfair arrests and civil rights violations, as has already been the reality with zealots like sheriff Joe Arpaio.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) should have argued that this provision undermines the civil rights of immigrants and Hispanics. But it chose to challenge it based on Arizona’s power to carry out functions that are considered strictly under federal authority.
Now, President Obama’s leadership is even more critical. Yesterday, his administration promised it will not deport people arrested in Arizona unless they meet the criteria of the Dept. of Homeland Security. Obama should also suspend flawed deportation programs like S-Comm and 287(g).
The Court made the right decision in blocking three additional provisions in SB 1070 that would have allowed Arizona to make it a crime for the undocumented to look for work, required people to carry immigration papers at all times and arrested, without due process, people suspected of committing crimes that would subject them to deportation.
Last week, we applauded the president’s wise move to give undocumented youth the reprieve they deserve. Now, Republicans are introducing legislation to undo that executive order and cheering the survival of a discriminatory law.
As the anti-immigrant lobby works feverishly to marginalize communities through punitive measures like SB1070, Latino and civic organizations must do more than mobilize voters for the general election. State-by-state, they must let Hispanic voters know who is a friend and who is a foe.
