On Wednesday, Arizona’s anti-immigrant “papers, please” law, also known as SB 1070, will get its day in court when the federal government argues its case against the Grand Canyon State. This week also marks the second anniversary of the notorious racial-profiling law, and to observe this, we are hosting a blog carnival dedicated to highlighting the fallout from the law’s implementation as well as what’s at stake should it be upheld.
At NCLR, we have long advocated for reforming our broken immigration system, but doing so requires a careful approach that is rooted in preserving the civil liberties of all people, whether undocumented or not. Arizona’s SB 1070 is devoid of this thoughtfulness and instead promotes discrimination against all people of color, including citizens. Simply put, SB 1070 is un-American and violates the nation’s foundation of civil rights.
We are in need of reform that fixes problems at the federal level, not one that fosters a confusing patchwork of state legislation. We are also in need of reform that underscores our commitment to equal treatment under the law, regardless of what we look like or where we come from. Striking down Arizona’s “papers, please” law is the first step in making that reform a reality. If the struggle for civil rights has taught us anything, it is that the federal government—not the states—is the entity best-suited to protect our civil liberties.
We are pleased to be hosting this very important blog carnival that showcases the strong coalition of advocates and civil rights groups that have banded together to fight this terrible law. The posts that follow examine various aspects of the policy, including the legal arguments for striking down SB 1070, the effect of the law on communities in Arizona, and what’s at stake should the Supreme Court decide the law is constitutional. The posts represent a broad cross-section of individuals dedicated to fighting for just immigration policies. We'll be updating this post as we receive more entries.
Please read, comment, and share these posts with your family, friends, and neighbors. Help us send the message to Congress that it must do its job and pass federal immigration legislation to prevent any more states from enacting discriminatory laws like SB 1070.
Thank you!
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Two Years Later, the Fight Continues - Reform Immigration for America
Arizona's "Papers Please" Immigration Law Goes to the Supreme Court - Tara Tidwell Cullen, National Immigrant Justice Center
Implications of April 25 Supreme Court Argument on Arizona Immigration Law - Pili Tobar, America's Voice
SB 1070 Turns Two - NCLR