Immigration Law Analysis

Immigration Law Analysis

The purpose of Arizona Bill SB 1070 and its most controversial provisions

The purpose of Arizona Bill SB 1070 was that it required agencies and officials of the political and state subdivisions to assist in and fully comply with the enforcement of laws of federal immigration. Additionally the law gives county attorneys sufficient authority in a few investigations regarding the employers. The bill sets up crimes that involve soliciting work, stopping to hire, or trespassing by illegal aliens under specific situations, and harboring, transporting, or concealing illegal aliens, and their corresponding penalties (Senate Research, 2010)

The Arizona SB 1070 bill has given rise to a lot of controversy regarding its provisions.The most controversial provision of the bill required local and state police officers to inquire about the status of immigration of any person arrested or stopped if the officer considers the person suspicious and an unauthorized immigrant. Another controversial provision is the one in which it is stated that if a person does not possess his federal registration card, then it would be considered as a state crime. Additionally the provision in which it was stated that application of illegal immigrants for work would be considered a crime, was also controversial (Chishti et.al, 2011).

One constitutional challenge to SB 1070

A constitutional challenge to Arizona's SB 1070 bill was the racial profiling law. Private groups brought a legal challenge to SB 1070 that the required checks on immigration status can lead to constitutionally impermissible racial profiling. Plaintiffs claimed that racial discrimination was one of the factors that motivated the enactment of SB 1070. This was an extremely valid constitutional valid to the law. It was expected that enforcement of Arizona Bill SB 1070 could potentially lead to impermissible racial profiling. On the other hand, Arizona has taken measures for preventing racial profiling in ...