SCOTUS rules on Arizona: 3 of 4 key immigration points struck down

With Justice Elena Kagan recusing herself, SCOTUS delivered a 5-to-3 ruling in re Arizona's SB 1070 -- as in Arizona v United States.

The provision requiring police to conduct immigration checks on those they arrest or stop for questioning -- and they suspect as illegal -- was upheld. From the Jurist.org:

Four specific provisions of the law were at issue: Section 2(B), which requires police officers to check the immigration status of anyone whom they arrest and allows police to stop and arrest anyone whom they believe to be an illegal immigrant; Section 3, which makes it a crime for someone even to be in the state without valid immigration papers; Section 5(C), which makes it a crime to apply for or hold a job in Arizona without proper papers; and Section 6, which gives a police officer the power to arrest an individual, without a warrant, whom the officer believes has committed a crime that could cause him or her to be deported, no matter where the crime may have occurred.

Everything else: struck down. Essentially the SCOTUS indicated that illegal immigration enforcement falls within the scope of federal authority only. The states must step aside and shut up.

In my opinion, this is merely one branch of the Fed, the Judicial [Executive, Legislative, Judicial], simply standing up for itself and the other two. In my view, to be expected.

Which is good if your version of the federal government believes in enforcing laws extant. Bad if your federal government involves Mr Obama.

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer crowed about the ruling in a positive fashion. I submit: she couldn't be more wrong. Immigrant-rights advocates cried foul. They couldn't be more wrong either.

Because, as a direct result of this ruling, Janet Napolitano declared immediately:

Homeland Security Suspends Immigration Enforcement Program For Arizona Officers

By Hernán Rozemberg

The Department of Homeland Security is suspending the program it uses to deputize local, county and state law enforcement officers in Arizona so they can double up as immigration agents.

The move affects only Arizona and it was made in direct reaction to the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on Monday regarding Arizona’s controversial immigration laws.

But with Homeland Security’s suspension of the program — called 287(g) from its section in immigration law — no future officers in Arizona will be given the training to arrest immigrants solely on their immigration status.

You'll enjoy this. Further:

Homeland Security would not comment on the record. An official on background indicated that ICE agents in Arizona have been instructed not to respond for calls for assistance from local enforcement unless the person in question is a convicted criminal, was just caught crossing the border illegally or is a repeat illegal border crosser.

Not only will no more officers be trained in Arizona, but already existing agreements with state law enforcement agencies were also nixed, according to the Homeland Security official.

Because I'm a "bottom line" kind of individual, what did this ruling actually do, and what does it mean?

It means that Arizona peace officers can, for example, stop vehicles and inquire into immigration legality. But, once a potential illegal Mexican or otherwise is found, it can do nothing further.

Because the federal government has decided to ignore Arizona and its MOUs or JPAs.

It has kicked Arizona to the curb. It is now refusing to acknowledge Arizona or its ability to bring illegals to light. It is refusing to deal with illegals unearthed by Arizona.

The federal government, in a nutshell, is refusing to enforce its own laws. It has overtly suspended immigration enforcement in Arizona. By targeting Arizona. For having the balls to challenge federal authority. And challenging the US government to enforce its own laws.

Yet, with that in mind, Maricopa County (AZ) Sheriff Joe Arpaio weighs in during an interview with Fox's Neil Cavuto:



Say what you will about Joe Arpaio, he clearly has balls the size of grapefruit.

God bless you, Sheriff Arpaio. You're one of a few Actual Americans left in this country's governments.

BZ