The way that Texas politicians reacted to the Supreme Court's decision on Arizona's immigration law depends largely on their party affiliation. Both Republicans and Democrats regard it as a victory for their side.
What the decision said
According to Politico, the Supreme Court struck down all of the provisions of the Arizona immigration law except for one. The one provision that was allowed to stand was the one that allowed law enforcement officers to inquire as to the immigration status of civilians they interact with, in for example traffic stops or arrests. However, further challenges to that provision will be allowed as information on how it is being put into effect comes to light.
Gov. Rick Perry reacts
According to the Fort Worth Star Telegram, Gov. Rick Perry regards the decision as "one step forward, two steps back." He hailed the decision to allow law enforcement officers to ask people about their immigration status. However Perry suggested that the failure, as he sees it, of the federal government to enforce immigration laws spoils the integrity of all laws. He also decried what he contends is the Supreme Court's depriving the states of the ability to deal with the illegal immigration problem.
The Senate candidates respond
The Texas Tribune carried the reactions of both Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and former Solicitor General Ted Cruz.
Dewhurst decried the failure of the federal government, as he sees it, to secure the borders. He ruled out any law that provides a path to citizenship for illegal aliens. Dewhurst suggested that the federal government needs to partner with state and local governments to solve the illegal immigration problem.
Ted Cruz also accused the Obama administration of failure to secure the borders. While Cruz applauded the Supreme Court's approval of the provision allowing law enforcement to query about immigration status, he also accused Dewhurst of opposing a bill in the Texas Legislature that would have mandated a similar procedure in Texas.
The Democrats applaud
According to the Texas Tribune, Texas Democratic politicians had a different view of decision than did their Republican counterparts.
Rep. Lloyd Doggett, for example, used the occasion to call for comprehensive immigration reform, including a national DREAM Act for illegal immigrant youth and a path to citizenship for other illegal immigrants who had not violated the law, with the exception of immigration laws.
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee also called for comprehensive immigration reform. She decried the Arizona law as calling for "racial profiling," and invoked the name of Rosa Parks in what she regards as an effort to end laws that discriminate against illegal aliens that, in her view, violate due process and equal rights.
Texas resident Mark Whittington writes about state issues for the Yahoo! Contributor Network.
