Supreme Court takes up controversial Arizona immigration law
It was unclear what the court would do with other aspects of the law that have been put on hold by lower federal courts.
It was unclear what the court would do with other aspects of the law that have been put on hold by lower federal courts.
Supreme Court justices strongly suggested Wednesday that they are ready to allow Arizona聽to enforce part of a controversial state law requiring police officers to check the聽immigration聽status of people they think are in the country illegally.
Liberal and conservative justices reacted skeptically to the Obama administration's argument that the state exceeded its authority when it made the records check, and another provision allowing suspected illegalimmigrants聽to be arrested without a warrant, part of the聽Arizona聽law aimed at driving illegal聽immigrantselsewhere.
"You can see it's not selling very well," Justice Sonia Sotomayor told Obama administration Solicitor General Donald Verrilli.
It was unclear what the court would do with other aspects of the law that have been put on hold by lower federal courts. The other blocked provisions make it a state crime for聽immigrants聽not to have聽immigrationregistration papers and for illegal聽immigrants聽to seek work or hold a job.
Gov. Jan Brewer, who signed the law two years ago, was on hand for the final argument of the court's term.
The latest high court clash between the administration and states turns on the extent of states' role inimmigration聽policy, which is essentially under the federal government's control.
Verrilli tried to persuade the justices that they should view the law in its entirety and inconsistent with federalimmigration聽policy. He said the records check would allow the state to "engage effectively in mass incarceration" of undocumented聽immigrants.
But Chief Justice John Roberts was among those on the court who took issue with Verrilli's characterization of the check of聽immigration聽status, saying the state merely wants to notify federal authorities it has someone in custody who may be in the U.S. illegally. "It seems to me that the federal government just doesn't want to know who's here illegally and who's not," Roberts said.
Outside the courthouse, more than 200 protesters gathered. The law's opponents made up a clear majority of the crowd, chanting and carrying signs like "Do I Look Illegal To You?" Some shouted "shame" at Brewer when she emerged from the building after the argument.
Brewer told reporters she was "very, very encouraged" by the justices' questions.
The administration challenged the law in federal court. Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, South Carolina and Utah passed similar laws, parts of which also are on hold pending the high court's decision.
The court argument took place as presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney is trying to find a way to cut President Barack Obama's strong support among Latino voters. Romney was drawn to the right on issues likeimmigration聽as he fought off other Republicans in state GOP primary elections. On Monday, Romney signaled he was considering a wide range of聽immigration聽policies, including a proposal from Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., that would allow some of the estimated 11 million illegal聽immigrants聽a chance at visas to stay in the U.S.
A decision in the high-profile聽immigration聽case is expected in late June as both camps will be gearing up for the general election.
Arizona聽argues that with its 370-mile border with Mexico, it has paid a disproportionate price for illegalimmigration. It says its 2010 law is consistent with federal聽immigration聽policy.
The administration says the law, and聽Arizona's聽approach of maximum enforcement, conflict with a more nuanced federal聽immigration聽policy that seeks to balance national security, law enforcement, foreign policy, human rights and the rights of law-abiding citizens and聽immigrants.
Civil rights groups that back the administration say聽Arizona's聽and the other states' measures encourage racial profiling and ethnic stereotyping. California, New York and nine other states with significant聽immigrantpopulations support the Obama administration.
Florida, Michigan and 14 other states, many of which also are challenging Obama's health care overhaul, argue that聽Arizona's聽law does not conflict with federal law.
Justice Elena Kagan, who was Obama's first solicitor general, is not taking part in the case, presumably because she worked on it while in the Justice Department.
The case is聽Arizona聽v. U.S., 11-182.