Supreme Court backs Ariz. employer sanctions law

Supreme Court backs Ariz. employer sanctions law
Law allows state to penalize businesses that hire illegal immigrants

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court has sustained Arizona's law that penalizes businesses for hiring workers who are in the United States illegally, rejecting arguments that states have no role in immigration matters.

By a 5-3 vote, the court said Thursday that federal immigration law gives states the authority to impose sanctions on employers who hire unauthorized workers.

The decision upholding the validity of the 2007 law comes as the state is appealing a ruling that blocked key components of a second, more controversial Arizona immigration enforcement law. Thursday's decision applies only to business licenses and does not signal how the high court might rule if the other law comes before it.

Chief Justice John Roberts, writing for a majority made up of Republican-appointed justices, said the Arizona's employer sanctions law "falls well within the confines of the authority Congress chose to leave to the states."

Justices Stephen Breyer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor, all Democratic appointees, dissented.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43181537/ns ... _politics/


This surprises me...But for once I think they're beginning to figure out that if you want to curtail the problem, you dry up the incentive for the work force. As the article says, it "does not signal how the court might rule if the other law comes before it." That is another issue... But I think this is an interesting first step to hit the employers. (And the employers are not going to be happy about it.) But watch for other states to instantly come up with laws based on this one.

Another unfunded mandate to make running a business in America even harder?



Just kidding! Good job Supremes! The easiest way to slow/stop illegal immigration limit the number of jobs available to them.
Downside? Those Arizona illegals will move to Colorado driving down wages here. Hick would never sign a bill like this.

Paranoia much?

Illegals were already moving into Colorado after the Arizona anti-illegal immigrant law first passed. True, some will move home, but I think states without this legislation will gain illegals, especially California.

That's two posts I've agreed with you on today LJ.... :+1: :+1:

CB, maybe the world did come to an end. :faint: Just kidding, LJ is right, to punish the employers is actually a nonpartisan part of the solution. It will effect both sides and make jobs here very difficult for the illegals to find.

thanks LJ I was going to post this. but got busy then went to lunch instead.

Supreme Court backs Ariz. employer sanctions law
Law allows state to penalize businesses that hire illegal immigrants

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court has sustained Arizona's law that penalizes businesses for hiring workers who are in the United States illegally, rejecting arguments that states have no role in immigration matters.

By a 5-3 vote, the court said Thursday that federal immigration law gives states the authority to impose sanctions on employers who hire unauthorized workers.

The decision upholding the validity of the 2007 law comes as the state is appealing a ruling that blocked key components of a second, more controversial Arizona immigration enforcement law. Thursday's decision applies only to business licenses and does not signal how the high court might rule if the other law comes before it.

Chief Justice John Roberts, writing for a majority made up of Republican-appointed justices, said the Arizona's employer sanctions law "falls well within the confines of the authority Congress chose to leave to the states."

Justices Stephen Breyer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor, all Democratic appointees, dissented.

So states can have their own immigration laws? Was this not the argument against AZ's attempt to check/deport illegal immigrants?

It wasn't AZ's "attempt to deport illegal immigrants" that got them in trouble....it was their attempt to racial profile any hispanic looking person and ask for papers proving citizenship. That one is still in the courts......it's one of those grey areas....determining what is and is not racial profiling, and in what circumstances can a cop stop someone and ask for papers.

But wasn't one of the court arguments that only the feds can have immigration laws - and not the states?