News

Jul 21, 2010

A court hearing in the U.S. government's challenge to Arizona's controversial illegal immigration law will be held on July 22, Reuters reported.

The Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act requires the police to question a person about their immigration status if there is "reasonable suspicion" that he/she is in the U.S. illegally, The New York Times reported. The law also makes it a state crime to be in the country illegally, and cracks down on those sheltering, hiring and/or transporting illegal immigrants.

In United States of America v Arizona, the Department of Justice claims the law unconstitutionally interferes with the federal government's authority to set and enforce immigration policy, and asks for an injunction to enjoin enforcement of the law. Unless U.S. District Court Judge Susan Bolton blocks it, the law will take effect on July 29.

"Arizonans are understandably frustrated with illegal immigration, and the federal government has a responsibility to comprehensively address those concerns,” Attorney General Eric Holder said. "But diverting federal resources away from dangerous aliens such as terrorism suspects and aliens with criminal records will impact the entire country's safety. Setting immigration policy and enforcing immigration laws is a national responsibility. Seeking to address the issue through a patchwork of state laws will only create more problems than it solves."

Supporters of the law say it will pressure the 10.8 million illegal immigrants living and working in the U.S. to leave. In May, the Pew Research Center released the results of a poll that showed nearly six in 10 Americans support the Arizona law.

Critics say the law will lead to civil rights violations and racial profiling of Hispanics. Musicians, such as Sonic Youth, Shakira and Massive Attack, are pushing for other artists to boycott Arizona. The band Rage Against the Machine is even giving the proceeds from concert tickets to organizations actively fighting the law. Sports teams are jumping into the fray as well; in May the Phoenix Suns wore "Los Suns" jerseys to celebrate Cinco de Mayo and declare opposition to the law.

Since Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer signed the bill into law on April 23, both sides have held rallies that drew thousands of participants. In response, several cities including Los Angeles, San Diego and Seattle, have launched economic boycotts of Arizona and businesses located there. The Tucson and Flagstaff city councils also voted to sue the state in an effort to overturn the law, ABC News reported.

On the world stage, the Arizona law has sparked even more lawsuits, The Associated Press reported. Mexico filed a legal brief on July 1 protesting the law. Earlier this week, Bolivia, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Paraguay and Peru filed nearly identical motions to join Mexico's case, claiming the law would hinder trade, tourism and the fight against drug trafficking.