Posts Tagged ‘20 other states file similar AZ immigration law’
Jul 30
Arizona appeals judge’s ruling on immigration law
By Jerry Markon and Robert Barnes
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, July 30, 2010
Hundreds of opponents of Arizona’s new immigration law swarmed the streets of downtown Phoenix Thursday, confronting police in riot gear as the state’s governor filed an urgent appeal of a judge’s ruling that prevented key portions of the law from taking effect.
Condemning what they called the “terrorizing” of Hispanics, protesters blockaded a jail and marched to the offices of Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, known for his aggressive stance on illegal immigrants. The sheriff vowed a “crime sweep” targeting illegal immigrants but later postponed the raids. At least 17 protesters were arrested.
With the case’s future uncertain, the demonstrations illustrated that tensions over the state’s immigration crackdown may only have been heightened by U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton’s ruling Wednesday in the Obama administration’s lawsuit against Arizona. Bolton temporarily blocked the law’s most controversial sections, but protesters objected to other provisions that she allowed to take effect on Thursday.
A day after Bolton’s decision riveted attention on illegal immigration, it was clear that the increasingly divisive debate is spreading nationwide.
Nearly 20 states have introduced bills similar to the Arizona law, and nine states with Republican attorneys general are planning to file appellate briefs supporting Arizona. Immigration is a key theme in this fall’s midterm elections; at the same time conservative candidates are attacking what they say is the Obama administration’s aggressive expansion of government.
Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (R), whose fierce criticism of the federal lawsuit has helped her popularity at home, on Thursday appealed Bolton’s ruling to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit. Urging the court to quickly hear the case, she vowed that she “will not back down.” The Justice Department, whose lawsuit against Arizona was a rare federal challenge of a state law, declined to comment.
If the political reactions to Bolton’s decision were predictable, the legal path forward was not. The 9th Circuit has a liberal reputation, and court officials said the case will be heard by a “motions panel” designed for urgent appeals. The panel this month consists of three judges who, like Bolton, were appointed by Democratic presidents.
But if the panel’s decision is appealed to the full 9th Circuit, 10 of the 11 judges will be chosen by a random computerized draw. The 11th jurist will be Chief Judge Alex Kozinski, a Republican appointee………………..read more
Possibly related articles:
Loading ...
