IMMIGRANTS STILL AT RISK

Today's ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court on four provisions of Arizona's immigration law [S.B. 1070] gives some measure of relief for immigtrants in our country, but still leaves them at risk because one section of 1070 remains in place--at least for now.

The three sections of 1070 struck down by the Supreme Court are the folllowing:

     Section 3:  "makes failure to comply with federal alien-registration requirements a state misdemeanor"

     Section 5(C):  "makes it a misdemeanor for an unauthorized alien to seek or engage in work in the State [Arizona]"

     Section 6:  "authorizes state and local officers to arrest without a warrant a person 'the officer has probably cause to believe...has committed any public offense that makes the person removable from the United States"
 
Upheld by the Court is section 2(B):  "requires officers conducting a stop, detention, or arrest to make efforts, in some circumstances, to verify the person's immigration status with the Federal Government"

Why should immigrants across the nation still be concerned?  Because the very real threat of racial profiling of immigrants remains.  The decision leaves enormous discretion in the hands of the law enforcement officers who are making a stop of a person.  How is an officer to make a clear and unbiased determination in the Arizona law:  "Section 2(B) of S.B. 1070 requires state officers to make a 'reasonable attempt...to determine the immigration status' of any person they stop, detain, or arrest on some other legitimate basis if 'reasonable suspicion exists that the person is an alien and is unlawfully present in the United States."

How is "reasonable suspicion" to be interpreted?  Color of skin?  Primary language?  Certain physical features?  How long can a person be detained while state officers seek immigration status reports from the Federal Government?
    
This is at the heart of the challenge to S.B. 1070 by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in our Amicus Curiae Brief.

Fortunately, the U.S. Supreme Court recognized these inherent dangers, and has agreed to allow Section 2(B) to go forward while implementation takes place:  "This opinion does not foreclose other preemption and constitutinal challenges to the law as interpreted and applied after it goes into effect."

I am hopeful that the Church and various immigration rights organizations will monitor the implementation of this law across Arizona--as well as in other States where the same provision is enacted.  Specific examples of the suspicion of racial profiling need to be documented so that any needed preemption and constitutional challenges can take place.

If I were a person of dark skin who spoke another language as my primary language, I would still be fearful of being stopped and detained because of what some might term "reasonable suspicion."

This U.S. Supreme Court decision continues to underline our need for comprehensive immigration reform so that these piecemeal approaches can be avoided, and at long last, all immigrants in our country will be clear about their status and about their options to obtain legal status.

HELP FOR YOUNG IMMIGRANTS: A GOOD FIRST STEP!

The announcement today by Janet Napolitano, head of Homeland Security, granting assistance to young immigrants who were brought to this country as minors, is welcome news!  I welcome this news because I have met and worked with countless young people who will benefit from this change.

Some 800,000 young men and women could qualify for the new policy which removes them from the fear of deportation and allows them to obtain work permits. 

We are all winners with this new policy!  The young people are encouraged to finish their high school education, go to college, or join the military services.  Obviously, they must remain active and contributing members of society, avoid any criminal activity, and continue to help our nation grow and provide opportunity for everyone.

This policy shift to move these young people away from deportation to fuller assimilation in our society is taking place precisely because Congress has refused to deal with the plight of some 11.5 million immigrants living in our midst.  Political partisanship has resulted in legislative stalemate.  In a special way, our youngest immigrants have been made to suffer.


Activists and Dreamers watch President Obama's speechFriday afternoon
at the headquarters of the New York Immigration Coalition.
(Photo: Justin Mitchell)

The best avenue forward for all of us would be for Congress to recognize the inherent dignity and worth of all our immigrant peoples and to develop a more comprehensive solution.

Some will object and say that this is amnesty.  It is not.  It is a special enforcement policy which recognizes our futile handcuffing of young immigrant men and women who are eager and anxious to participate fully in the life of our country, and whose only "failure" was in being brought to this country as minors.

I am hopeful that all eligible young immigrants will sign up for this new policy shift, will pursue their education with renewed vigor, will serve our country with new enthusiasm, and will prove once again that as a nation of immigrants we do not fear them, but we welcome them and walk with them on their journeys.