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Judge blocks key parts of Arizona immigration law
Demonstrators hold a banner as they protest against Arizona's controversial Senate Bill 1070 immigration law outside the U.S. District Court in Phoenix July 22, 2010.
Credit: Reuters/Joshua Lott
PHOENIX |
PHOENIX (Reuters) - A judge on Wednesday blocked key parts of Arizona's tough new immigration law, granting the Obama administration's request for an injunction on grounds that immigration matters are the federal government's responsibility.
U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton agreed to an injunction on provisions including one that required a police officer to determine the immigration status of a person detained or arrested if the officer believes the person is not in the country legally.
The Republican-controlled Arizona Legislature passed the law in April to try to stem the flow of illegal immigrants over the state's border with Mexico and cut down on drug trafficking and crime -- setting it on a collision course with the federal government.
(Reporting by Jeremy Pelofsky in Washington and Tim Gaynor in Phoenix, Editing by Sandra Maler)
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Let’s just look at one aspect to show what a clown this lady is. Federal statute authorizes states to request information from the federal government on the legal status of individuals. Congress intentionally passed a law that forces the executive branch to respond to state reuests for information. This ridiculous judge claims that a state law that will result in requesting such information from the executive branch is preempted by federal law. How is it preempted by federal law when federal law authorizes it? If the Obama administration doesn’t like the fact states can request such then Obama has to have Congress change federal law. Using the courts to skirt a federal law is an unconstitutional violation of separation of powers.
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