U.S. Congressman Lloyd Doggett Statement on Supreme Court’s Arizona Immigration Law Decision
June 25, 2012
Washington-- Today, following the Supreme Court's decision on the constitutionality of Arizona's immigration law, U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, a former Texas Supreme Court Justice, issued the following statement:
"The Court rightly rejected 3/4th of the Arizona law as unconstitutional, while reserving the right to reconsider implementation of the remaining provision. That remaining "show me your papers" rule is very troubling. Its implementation should be reevaluated because of racial profiling. Today's decision only underlines the need for prompt, comprehensive immigration reform--write the DREAM Act into law for youth and let those immigrants, who have been longstanding, law abiding, tax paying residents, pay a penalty and get in line to become citizens.
"Even Rick Perry said the Arizona law was not right for Texas. Thankfully the Court said it was wrong for America."
THE FOUR PROVISIONS ADDRESSED TODAY:
Unconstitutional Section 3: Makes it a state crime for any person to violate provisions of the federal immigration law requiring registration and the carrying of registration documents. These actions are civil, not criminal, violations under federal law.
Unconstitutional Section 5(C): Makes it a state crime for an immigrant who is unlawfully present and not authorized to work in the United States to apply for work, solicit work in a public place, or perform work within the state. This goes beyond federal law by criminalizing employment or the attempt to work by unauthorized individuals. Federal law punishes employers for knowingly hiring undocumented workers.
Unconstitutional Section 6: Authorizes police officers to arrest an individual without a warrant where the officers have probable cause to believe that the individual has committed an offense that makes him or her deportable.
UPHELD, subject to reviewing how implemented: Section 2(B): Requires state and local police to attempt to determine the immigration status of any person lawfully stopped, detained, or arrested whenever there is a "reasonable suspicion" that the person is unlawfully present, and verify that status with the federal government.