|
Comment on Partial Injunction of S.B. 1070 |
|
Wednesday, 28 July 2010 21:45 |
No More Deaths is disappointed by Judge Susan Bolton's ruling. We maintained from the very beginning that aspects of S.B. 1070 are unconstitutional, so we are not surprised at the judge's decision. However, Judge Bolton allowed to stand a provision that makes it a crime to "harbor" or "transport" an undocumented immigrant—a provision we believe is targeted primarily at mixed-status families, for it will now be a crime for a U.S. citizen to live with a loved one who is undocumented, or to drive them to work, to school, to a hospital or even to an immigration office to deal with their status.
Although restricting the circumstances under which state and local police can inquire about immigration status, the judge allowed for a provision that mandates that all law enforcement jurisdictions in the state check and report those they arrest to immigration authorities.
Finally, the judge has allowed to stand the provision that allows any individual to sue any jurisdiction that they feel is not fully enforcing the law. This will lead to frivolous lawsuits at a time when the state is already in the midst of a historic fiscal and economic crisis.
We believe that this ruling, and the federal government's lawsuit against S.B. 1070, are too little, too late. The federal government established the precedent for S.B. 1070 with programs like 287(g) and "Secure Communities"; they can still block this law by ending these programs and refusing to cooperate with the State of Arizona with the implementation of S.B. 1070. We will continue to protest against this law on July 29th, and to urge that businesses, municipalities, churches and other institutions declare non-compliance with S.B. 1070 and all other laws that provoke discrimination and division within our communities.
|
