Posts Tagged ‘Arizona’
Utah Passes Immigration Bills Known As The “Utah Solution”
Following in Arizona’s footsteps, Utah Governor, Gary R. Herbert has signed into law immigration bills known as the Utah Solution. The bills establish a guest worker program for undocumented workers and their families, allowing members to live and work in Utah. They also prohibit employers from knowingly hiring unauthorized workers and require most employers to participate in E-Verify. Like the recent Arizona legislation, the bills establish enforcement measures that require officers to verify the immigration status of individuals stopped under various circumstances.
Tags: Arizona, Gary Herbert, Governor Herbert, immigration bills, Utah Solution
Posted in Alerts, Politics/Current Events | Read More »
The 9th Circuit Invalidates Arizona Election Law Requiring Proof of Citizenship
On Tuesday, October 26, 2010, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, California invalidated parts of Arizona’s Proposition 200, a voter-approved measure requiring residents to show proof of citizenship when voting. The Ninth Circuit concluded that the election law conflicts with the intent of the Federal National Voter Registration Act to streamline the voting process with a simple form, removing state-imposed registration obstacles. The Ninth Circuit left intact the requirement that voters show photo identification.
Current Federal Law requires voters to attest to their citizenship under “penalty of perjury,” which the 3-judge panel concluded is enough. Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor sat on the panel as a retired justice, voting with the majority. She was a state senator and judge in Arizona before being nominated by President Ronald Reagan to the Supreme Court in 1981.
Tags: 9th Circuit, Arizona, proof of citizenship, Proposition 200, voting
Posted in Alerts, Politics/Current Events | Read More »
Portions of Arizona’s Controversial Senate Bill 1070 Blocked
Today, the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona issued a partial injunction preventing certain portions of SB1070 from taking effect. SB1070, also known as the “Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act,” was signed into law April 23, 2010 by Arizona’s Governor, Janice K. Brewer. It is scheduled to go into effect tomorrow, July 29, 2010. The U.S. Department of Justice has sued the State of Arizona and Governor Brewer, arguing that SB1070 interferes with the Federal government’s ability to set and enforce national immigration policies.
SB1070 has created widespread controversy and outrage due to its harsh immigration provisions that many believe violate civil and constitutional rights. Today, U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton blocked key provisions from taking effect tomorrow. Among the provisions include the reasonable suspicion section allowing police to arrest and detain suspected illegal immigrants without a warrant. In addition, Judge Bolton enjoined the provisions making it illegal for undocumented day laborers to solicit or perform work and the provision requiring immigrants to carry federal immigration documents.
Many SB1070 provisions will go into effect as planned. For example, starting tomorrow, it will become a crime for Arizona state officials to interfere with or refrain from enforcement of federal immigration laws. It will also be a crime to pick up and transport day laborers across Arizona or to give rides to or harbor illegal immigrants. Also, if a vehicle is used to transport an illegal immigrant, it can be impounded.
Please contact our office if you have any questions about SB1070.
Tags: Arizona, Department of Justice, Governor Janice Brewer, SB1070, Susan Bolton
Posted in Alerts, Crimes and Immigration, Politics/Current Events | Read More »
