A federal judge this morning blocked enforcement of the most controversial components of Arizona’s SB 1070 immigration law, just one day before the law was to go into effect.
SB 1070 has been the target of considerable student protest and organizing nationally since it was passed this spring, and is expected to be a flash point for activism when students return to campus in the fall.
Judge Susan Bolton found a “substantial likelihood” that legal residents would be subject to wrongful arrest under the law, and ruled that the statute would thus “impose a ‘distinct, unusual and extraordinary’ burden on legal resident aliens that only the federal government has the authority to impose.”
Update | Here’s the text of the judge’s order.
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July 28, 2010 at 2:19 pm
Maxwell Love
From a friend;
Arizona via Malcolm X. “You don’t stab me with a 6″ knife, pull it out 3 inches and call that progress.” Judge injoins parts of SB 1070 but La Lucha Sigue.
July 28, 2010 at 2:30 pm
Angus Johnston
Well put. I’ve edited the title of the story.
July 29, 2010 at 10:52 am
Barry Scheckner
Subj: Arizona Immigration: Protect the borders first to close the revolving door
Why doesn’t Arizona put their efforts on the border to stop immigration and other illegal activities? This would be within their “State’s Rights” and could conceivably cost less money than enforcing the ‘new’ immigration law. Besides, the entire country would benefit and it could be a great use of resources to demonstrate to the Federal Government that Border Protection can be accomplished and that our country can be kept safe. Unless we close the ‘revolving door’, incarceration and deportation is not the solution to the problem: Protect our borders!
The issue should not be a political one. Americans want to keep America safe.