COMMENTARY | There are a lot of issues in this country that we all could go round and round about. Several of these issues will, eventually, wind up being resolved by the Supreme Court. That day can't come fast enough for issues such as Arizona's immigration law. The state -- and the nation, really -- desperately needs an answer. Can it enforce its immigration law or not?
As it stands, according to an article in the Yuma Sun, the Supreme Court last week gave Arizona until Feb. 6 to show a lower court judge was mistaken in blocking the state from enforcing some of the law that gives state authorities greater power to arrest illegal immigrants. The Department of Justice will then have until March 19 to respond and lay out its arguments as to why Arizona should not be permitted to do what the state says the federal government is unwilling to do: Stop the flood.
Meanwhile, the state's legislature is at war with itself over the issue. Democrats would like to pass legislation to repeal the law. Republicans, who happen to hold the state's House and Senate, want to go further in enforcing the law by declaring a state emergency and that Arizona "will be exercising its right of sovereignty over soil within its boundaries," the Yuma Sun reported.
The governor is having small, intense, finger-pointing scuffles with the president. Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio is being investigated by the Department of Justice on allegations of discrimination against Latinos. A woman who is a U.S. citizen born in Yuma has been prevented by a judge from running for city council for not having a sufficient grasp on the English language.
Meanwhile, the issue either looks like a state desperately trying to protect itself in absence of federal protection or it looks like Arizona's government is prejudiced, depending on whom you ask. There is no doubt illegal immigration is costing a lot of money and a lot of problems in Arizona.
There is no doubt the government has been dragging its feet in coming up with a comprehensive solution for the problem. So now it's up to the Supreme Court to decide what Arizona can and can't do on its own to curb the problem. I hope the Court makes its decision soon because if there's one thing Arizona could use right now it's a bit of clarity.




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