Arizona’s Immigration Law

UCLA Law’s Comprehensive Guide to Arizona Immigration Law – “Arizona and National Immigration Crisis“

Arizona Senate Bill 1070 (SB1070) was signed into law by Arizona Governor Jan Brewer on April 23, 2010. The bill, officially titled “Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act,” gives law enforcement in the State of Arizona the right to inquire about and investigate the immigration status of any individual they arrest.

The bill states: “Where reasonable suspicion exists that the person is an alien who is unlawfully present in the United States, a reasonable attempt shall be made, when practicable, to determine the immigration status of the person” and that “any person who is arrested shall have the person’s immigration status determined before person is released.”

The bill will take effect on July 29, 2010. Many Latinos all over the United States, as well as the ACLU and immigrant’s rights organizations, protest the bill as an enabler of racial profiling. In an interview with CNN’s Larry King, President Barack Obama stated that SB 1070 “puts American citizens who look Hispanic or are Hispanic potentially in an unfair situation.”

The Federal Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the State of Arizona on July 6th, 2010 for the bill, claiming that states do not have authority to regulate immigration. If Arizona sets the precedent of regulating their own immigration, the federal government is wary of other states following suit, creating inconsistency and an even more complicated immigration policy.

Since July 28, 2010, the most controversial parts of the law have been blocked by the Federal Courts.  The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule on the constitutionality of the law in 2012.  (See below.)

We hope that the information provided below assists you in better understanding SB 1070

This page is divided into the following subtopics:

• News Stories
• Videos
• Senate Bill 1070
• Pending Lawsuits
• What Can I Do?

NEWS STORIES

• Court Rules Against Arizona Immigration Law (4-11-11)
• In Governor’s Race, Will Immigration Law Be Decisive? (8-25-10)
• Court Ruling Unlikely to Change Politics of Immigration (7-28-10)
• Interview with Paul Virtue Regarding the USA v. Arizona Lawsuit (7-28-10)
• Effect of Arizona’s New Immigration Law May Hinge on Federal Cooperation (7-27-10)
• Arizona Law Immigration Law Gets First Major Court Hearing (7-15-10)
• Another Bad Idea From Arizona (6-18-10)
• Arizona Governor to Work With Obama on Immigration (6-03-10)
• Justice Department poised to challenge Arizona immigration law (5-27-10)
• Coalition Files Lawsuit Against Arizona’s New Immigration Law (5-17-10)
• US Immigration Activists Protest Arizona Law (5-02-10)
• Arizona Enacts Stringent Law on Immigration (4-23-10)

VIDEOS

SB 1070 LAW AND INTERPRETATION

• Text of SB 1070
• Senate Fact Sheet
• Enforcing Arizona’s SB 1070: A State of Confusion

  - A report on the Arizona law by journalist Jeffrey Kaye

FEDERAL LAWSUITS

• 9th Circuit Decision in USA v. Arizona (4-11-10)
• Text of Preliminary Injunction in USA v. Arizona (7-28-10)
• DHS Press Release Regarding Preliminary Injunction (7-28-10)
• Text of USA v. Arizona Lawsuit (7-06-10)
• Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief in ACLU Lawsuit (5-17-10)

WHAT CAN I DO?

• ACLU’s “What Happens in Arizona Stops in Arizona”

  - Click above and voice your opinion to your Congressional Representative