Everyone is wondering how this reflects on a future ruling as to Arizona's immigration law which was struck down in a decision by both the Arizona District Court and the 9th Circuit.
Here is an analysis from SCOTUS Blog:
A divided Supreme Court on Thursday sent a strong signal that states will be free to experiment with new laws dealing with unlawful aliens living within their borders, at least when the states seek to control access to jobs. The usual argument that immigration policy has to be uniform, across the nation, would appear to have a significant loophole. Whether the new 5-3 ruling upholding the less controversial of Arizona’s recent legislative attack on immigrants will actually reach further than jobs, affecting other state and local initiatives, is likely to depend upon how the Justices react to cases already on their docket or soon to arrive....In other words, it's not clear how much this reflects a willingness to allow states to act on immigration matters, but it is a sign that the majority on the court are willing to allow states to go somewhat beyond minimal federal requirements, at least so long as not in conflict with federal law.
The decision technically did not go beyond the specific Arizona law at issue but, between the lines, seemed to have some broader themes. There was even a hint that Arizona’s more controversial alien control law — now widely known as “S.B. 1070″ — may not fare as well as its worker control law now has, particularly its provision that gives police wide authority to arrest and detain any individual that an officer believes is an unlawful alien. Arizona is preparing to file a new appeal, probably during the summer, to try to revive S.B. 1070 after key provisions were blocked in April by the Ninth Circuit Court.
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"...particularly its provision that gives police wide authority to arrest and detain any individual that an officer believes is an unlawful alien." -SCOTUS Blog
ReplyDeleteI believe that SB A1070 does not allow anyone to be detained and/or arrested who "an officer believes is an unlawful alien." Rather, they must be detained and/or arrested for an illegal act/offense/etc.; then, they are to check the citizenship status of a suspect if there is reason to believe they may be here illegally (e.g. can't produce an id, but is erratically driving, drunk driving, etc.).
Please correct me if I'm wrong. However, if I am correct, then the SCOTUS blog is implying that they don't know what is really in SB 1070. Probably just a clerk; but still, disturbing.