IMMIGRATION LAW UPDATE: U.S. Supreme Court Chastises Arizona

The Case: ARIZONA, ET AL. v. UNITED STATES, United States Supreme Court, October Term 2011; Appeal from the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, No. 11-182, Argued April 25, 2012 - Decided June 25, 2012; Cite as: 567 U.S. _____________ (2012).
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The U.S. Supreme Court ruled principally in favor of President Obama and the Federal Government's position on Arizona's controversial immigration law, and largely against Arizona's Governor, Jan Brewer, and the state's legislature.

The High Court, in a 5-3 decision, essentially struck down the key parts of the law whose goal was to deter illegal immigration, but it let stand a controversial provision that allows Arizona police to check a person's immigration status while enforcing other laws.

The decision reaffirms the authority of the Federal Government to set immigration policy and laws.

The Arizona immigration statute at issue in this case (S.B. 1070) was enacted in 2010 to address issues related to the large number of unlawful aliens present in Arizona. The Federal Government intervened to enjoin the new law as preempted.

In effect, the Federal Government won.

[www.cnn.com, 6/25/2012, "Blow To Immigration Law"; online.wsj.com/article/SB100014240527..., "Supreme Court Allows Immigration Checks"]