U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton didn't rule on whether to block the law from taking effect July 29, or whether to dismiss the lawsuit, one of seven. Hearings in two other lawsuits — including one filed by the federal government — are set for July 22, and the judge has been careful to give no hints on who she might favor.
At stake is more than just who can detain illegal immigrants within U.S. borders. If Bolton rules in Arizona's favor, it opens the door to states taking on issues that have long been the responsibility of the federal government.
John Bouma, an attorney representing the state, argued Arizona shouldn't have to suffer from the country's broken immigration system when it has 15,000 police officers who can arrest illegal immigrants.
"Just leaving it in the status quo leaves the state of Arizona in economic harm, in irreparable harm, every day," Bouma said, noting the state's steep education and health care costs for illegal immigrants.
But allowing Arizona to carry out its own immigration law violates all court decisions that hold that only the federal government can handle immigration, said Stephen Montoya, an attorney for Phoenix police Officer David Salgado, who filed the lawsuit along with the statewide nonprofit group Chicanos Por La Causa.
"The federal government doesn't want this assistance," Montoya said.
2 comments:
both federal AND state should be working hand in hand
Shoot them on the spot it works in other countries it will work here!
Post a Comment