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Supreme Court To Rule On States’ Anti-Immigrant Laws

Posted on December 12, 2011 by scjustice

From The Associated Press:

By MARK SHERMAN

Dec. 12, 2011

WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court agreed Monday to rule on Arizona’s controversial law targeting illegal immigrants.

The justices said they will review a federal appeals court ruling that blocked several tough provisions in the Arizona law. One of those requires that police, while enforcing other laws, question a person’s immigration status if officers suspect he is in the country illegally.

The Obama administration challenged the Arizona law by arguing that regulating immigration is the job of the federal government, not states. Similar laws in Alabama, South Carolina and Utah also are facing administration lawsuits. Private groups are suing over immigration measures adopted in Georgia and Indiana.

The court now has three politically charged cases on its election-year calendar. The other two are President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul and new electoral maps for Texas’ legislature and congressional delegation.

Justice Elena Kagan will not take part in the Arizona case, presumably because of her work on the issue when she served in the Justice Department.

Arguments probably will take place in late April, which would give the court roughly two months to decide the case. (more…)

Filed under: Alabama, Arizona, Arizona-copycat laws, immigrant community, S.B. 20, South Carolina | Tagged: Elena Kagan, Georgia, Indiana, SCOTUS, Supreme Court, Utah | 1 Comment »

Ala. Immigration Law Could Push Feds In New Direction

Posted on October 10, 2011 by scjustice

From The Huntsville Times:

Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley sAlabama Gov. Robert Bentley is flanked by Sen. Scott Beason, R-Gardendale, left, and Micky Hammon, R-Decatur, right, as he speaks before signing Alabama’s law cracking down on illegal immigration in June. (AP Photo, Mickey Welsh)

By Brian Lawson, The Huntsville Times

Published: Monday, October 10, 2011, 7:18 AM

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama — Through the years, Alabama has been pushed by the federal government, through the courts, to make changes to its laws.

But in the debate over the state’s immigration law, it may be Alabama that pulls federal law in a new direction.

The federal courts are still looking at immigration laws in Arizona, Georgia, Indiana and Utah. And South Carolina’s immigration law is set to go into effect Jan. 1.

The patchwork approach that the Justice Department has argued against in court filings seems to be gaining speed.

And the decision by U.S. District Court Judge Sharon Lovelace Blackburn last month to leave in place key provisions of Alabama’s law, where similar measures had been blocked by other federal courts, certainly raises the stakes.

In court filings last week, the Justice Department said there is no room under federal law for a state to enact a separate immigration law enforcement system. Judge Blackburn rejected that argument in late September.

The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta will take up requests this week to block Alabama law. (more…)

Filed under: Alabama, Arizona, Arizona-copycat laws, immigrant community, Law Enforcement, Migrant Workers, S.B. 20 | Tagged: 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, Georgia, Gov. Robert Bentley, immigration law, Indiana, John Carroll, Kevin Johnson, Mark McDaniel, Micky Hammon, Mike Ball, Sharon Lovelace Blackburn, South Carolina, Supreme Court, Utah | Leave a Comment »

Justice Department Eyes 4 More Immigration Lawsuits

Posted on October 4, 2011 by scjustice

From Politico:

A petition against a Ga. immigration official may be backed up soon by a federal suit. | AP Photo

By MACKENZIE WEINGER | 9/30/11 6:32 AM EDT

The Obama administration is ratcheting up its efforts against state immigration laws around the country, according to a new report.

After suing Arizona and Alabama over immigration measures enacted in those states, the Justice Department is currently reviewing immigration laws in four other states to decide whether to challenge the measures, The Washington Post reported. The immigration measures being examined were enacted in Utah, Georgia, South Carolina and Indiana.

The Justice Department will examine the four laws to see the extent to which the measures interfere with the federal government’s enforcement of immigration law.

“Based on that review and applying those principles, the United States will decide whether and when to bring suit challenging particular state laws,” Justice Department spokesperson Xochitl Hinojosa said. (more…)

Filed under: Alabama, Arizona, Arizona-copycat laws, immigrant community, Law Enforcement, Racism, S.B. 20 | Tagged: Barack Obama, Georgia, Indiana, Jonathan Turley, Justice Department, South Carolina, Utah, Xochitl Hinojosa | Leave a Comment »

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