The Supreme Court Strikes Down Arizona Illegal Immigration Law

The Supreme Court struck down four key provisions in the Arizona Illegal Immigration Law also known as SB 1070 this morning. What does that mean for other states that were supporting the controversial immigration law?

The court ruled that SB1070 was interfering with the federal immigration law. Judge Andrew Kennedy wrote in the decision: “The Federal Government has brought suit against a sovereign State to challenge the provision even before the law has gone into effect," Kennedy wrote,’ he also said ‘There is a basic uncertainty about what the law means and how it will be enforced,” according to ABC News.

The Arizona Immigration Law was signed by Gov. Jan Brewer almost 2 years ago. Immediately the Obama administration vocalized their disapproval of the law and took actions against it. Since then the 2 administrations have been at odds on this issue.

Brewer has been an avid critic of President Obama and his political decisions, on the other hand the Obama administration has called SB 1070 not only unconstitutional but also inhumane.

And it seems the Supreme Court agrees with the president. The 4 provisions that were struck down include:

"‘Show me your papers’ – where any police officer can arrest you if you don’t have your immigration papers with you.

Working illegally in the state is a crime.

It’s a crime not to carry your immigration paper work with you at all times.

Allows a police officer to arrest you only on the suspicion that you have broken the immigration law.'

SB 1070 was and continues to be a controversial state law dealing with an important issue that is affecting the entire nation. That’s precisely what the federal government argued before the Supreme Court.

Solicitor General Donald B. Verrilli Jr. said that it’s up to the federal government to deal with issues such as immigration, as designated by the U.S. Constitution, and that Arizona was violating the federal law.

On the other hand, Arizona argued that the state government was fed up with the federal government’s lack of involvement with the issue and that’s why they took this matter in their own hands.

The Supreme Court ruling came down after only a few short weeks since President Obama announced that 800,000 children of illegal immigrants can seek job visas and education legally in the U.S.

Oklahoma state government has been a vocal supporter of SB 1070, and currently has a similar law House Bill 1804.

What do you think about the Supreme Court decision?