Immigration, Racism & the Courts
from Consortium News:
Immigration, Racism & the Courts
July 16, 2012
Blocked on comprehensive immigration reform, the Obama administration has won some piecemeal victories against GOP demands for more draconian moves against the undocumented. Deportations of dreamers have been stopped and much of an Arizona law was overturned, but more battles lie ahead, writes Marjorie Cohn.
By Marjorie Cohn
The issue of immigration has been tossed about like a political football for some time. Democrats argue that migrants who have spent many years in the United States should be permitted to apply for lawful status. Republicans criticize these proposals as amnesty. But Congress has been unable to agree on comprehensive immigration reform.
Three and one-half years into his term, President Obama announced on June 15 a policy to halt deportations for many undocumented immigrants who came to the United States as children. They must be under age 30, have come to the United States when they were under age 16, have lived in the U.S. for at least five years, be either an honorably discharged veteran or a high school graduate, and have suffered no felony or significant misdemeanor convictions.
Ten days after Obama revealed his new program, the Supreme Court issued its long-awaited decision on Arizonas SB 1070. Arizona had enacted a repressive law aimed at attrition [of undocumented immigrants] through enforcement. Five other states followed suit and waited as the high court considered the constitutionality of Arizonas law.
In a victory for those who support a humane immigration policy, the Court overturned three sections of SB 1070: Arizona cannot criminalize unlawful presence in the United States, or working without papers; and the decision to arrest someone for unlawful presence in the U.S. is solely a federal issue. The Court made clear that the enforcement of immigration law is reserved to the federal government. .................(more)
The complete piece is at:
http://consortiumnews.com/2012/07/16/immigration-racism-the-courts/