Arizona SB 1070

Arizona SB 1070
Public domain · source
Short title	Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act
Long title	An Act to amend title 11, chapter 7, article 8, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 11-1051; to amend title 13, chapter 15, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding sections 13-1509, 13-2928 and 13-2929; relating to immigration.
Enacted by	Arizona State Legislature
Enacted	April 23, 2010
Signed by	Jan Brewer
Effective	July 29, 2010

Arizona SB 1070 is a legislative act passed by the Arizona State Legislature and signed into law by Governor of Arizona Jan Brewer on April 23, 2010. The law, also known as the Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act, was designed to strengthen immigration laws in Arizona and has been the subject of controversy and debate, involving organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union and National Council of La Raza. The law has been compared to similar legislation in other states, including Alabama HB 56 and Georgia HB 87, and has been the focus of discussions by Barack Obama, John McCain, and Jeb Bush. The law's provisions have been analyzed by experts from Harvard University, Stanford University, and the University of California, Berkeley.

Introduction

The introduction of Arizona SB 1070 was a response to concerns about illegal immigration in Arizona and the perceived lack of action by the United States federal government to address the issue. The law's supporters, including Russell Pearce and Joe Arpaio, argued that it was necessary to protect the state's citizens and resources from the effects of illegal immigration, which has been a topic of discussion in the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. The law has been discussed by Supreme Court of the United States justices, including John Roberts and Antonin Scalia, and has been the subject of analysis by think tanks such as the Cato Institute and the Heritage Foundation. Organizations such as the National Immigration Law Center and the American Immigration Lawyers Association have also weighed in on the law's provisions.

Background

The background to Arizona SB 1070 involves the complex and often contentious issue of immigration in the United States. The law was passed in response to concerns about the number of undocumented immigrants living in Arizona and the perceived strain they were placing on the state's resources, including those provided by Maricopa County and Pima County. The law's supporters pointed to the need to protect the state's citizens from the effects of illegal immigration, which has been a topic of discussion in the United States Congress and has involved organizations such as the Federation for American Immigration Reform and NumbersUSA. The law has been compared to federal legislation, including the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 and the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, which were signed into law by Lyndon B. Johnson and Ronald Reagan, respectively.

Provisions

The provisions of Arizona SB 1070 include a number of measures designed to strengthen immigration laws in Arizona. The law makes it a state crime to be in the United States without proper documentation, and requires law enforcement officers to check the immigration status of individuals they suspect may be in the country illegally. The law also includes provisions related to the transportation and harboring of undocumented immigrants, which has been a topic of discussion in the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and has involved organizations such as the National Border Patrol Council and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The law's provisions have been analyzed by experts from Yale University, University of Chicago, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and have been compared to those of other states, including California and Texas.

Legal Challenges

The legal challenges to Arizona SB 1070 have been numerous and have involved a number of organizations, including the United States Department of Justice and the American Civil Liberties Union. The law has been challenged on the grounds that it is preempted by federal immigration law, and that it violates the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution and the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The law has been the subject of hearings in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and has been discussed by Supreme Court of the United States justices, including Anthony Kennedy and Clarence Thomas. The law's provisions have been analyzed by experts from Columbia University, University of Michigan, and the University of California, Los Angeles, and have been compared to those of other states, including Florida and New York.

Impact and Controversy

The impact and controversy surrounding Arizona SB 1070 have been significant, with the law being the subject of protests and demonstrations by organizations such as the National Day Laborer Organizing Network and the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund. The law has also been the subject of boycotts, including those organized by the National Council of La Raza and the League of United Latin American Citizens. The law's provisions have been analyzed by experts from University of Texas at Austin, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and the University of Washington, and have been compared to those of other states, including Georgia and Alabama. The law has been discussed by United States Senate committees, including the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary and the United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and has been the subject of analysis by think tanks such as the Brookings Institution and the Center for American Progress.

Aftermath

The aftermath of Arizona SB 1070 has seen a number of developments, including the passage of similar legislation in other states, such as Alabama HB 56 and Georgia HB 87. The law has also been the subject of ongoing litigation, including a challenge by the United States Department of Justice that was heard by the Supreme Court of the United States in United States v. Arizona. The law's provisions have been analyzed by experts from Duke University, University of Southern California, and the University of Pennsylvania, and have been compared to those of other states, including North Carolina and South Carolina. The law has been discussed by United States House of Representatives committees, including the United States House Committee on the Judiciary and the United States House Committee on Homeland Security, and has been the subject of analysis by think tanks such as the American Enterprise Institute and the Hoover Institution. Category:United States immigration law