The law requires police, while enforcing other laws, to question a person’s immigration status if officers have a reasonable suspicion that the person is in the country illegally.
Arizona’s impending immigration law went before a federal judge for the first time Thursday, and attorneys for both sides sparred over who had the right to enforce immigration law: local officials or the federal government.
U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton didn’t rule on whether to block the law from taking effect July 29, or whether to dismiss the lawsuit, one of seven. Hearings in two other lawsuits – including one filed by the federal government – are set for July 22, and the judge has been careful to give no hints on who she might favor.
At stake is more than just who can detain illegal immigrants within U.S. borders. If Bolton rules in Arizona’s favor, it opens the door to states taking on issues that have long been the responsibility of the federal government.
John Bouma, an attorney representing the state, argued Arizona shouldn’t have to suffer from the country’s broken immigration system when it has 15,000 police officers who can arrest illegal immigrants.
“Just leaving it in the status quo leaves the state of Arizona in economic harm, in irreparable harm, every day,” Bouma said, noting the state’s steep education and health care costs for illegal immigrants.