- Title: USA: Judge blocks key parts of Arizona's tough new immigration law
- Date: 29th July 2010
- Summary: PHOENIX, ARIZONA, UNITED STATES (JULY 28, 2010) (REUTERS) PEOPLE CELEBRATING AND SINGING WHEN THEY LEARNED OF THE DECISION (SOUNDBITE) (English) ROSAMARIA SOTO, UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANT, SAYING: "It is a very good day for me and for all the other people. I think I need unity between all the people in Arizona. I love American citizens, I love the people in Congress, I love the same things: I love my family -- they do too, I love America -- they do too." (SOUNDBITE) (English) ANGEL TAVIRA, A PROTESTER, ON THE DECISION, SAYING: "Actually, once again, the fight is just beginning. We will not be done fighting, not until this thing is over. It is just a matter of patience" (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOM SJOBERG, OF PHOENIX, ARIZONA, SAYING: "My reaction this is unfair persecution of one of Arizona's most abused minorities and my mother put it best years ago when she said the time to send people packing is before they've cleaned your house, cooked your food, taken care of your elders for 20 years, not after. So Arizona's on the wrong side of this." (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SAMUEL PATINO, PROTESTER, SAYING: "I don't think any of this should be happening. I lived here for 10 years and in those 10 years we the Hispanic community always helped the state of Arizona in work, in everything. I'm from Texas but I think I should be here to support this." STATE FLAGS IN FRONT OF CAPITOL
- Embargoed: 13th August 2010 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Usa
- Country: USA
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVABYQQP4QL34VJB3PQG7RGUVIL6
- Story Text: A judge on Wednesday (July 28) blocked key parts of Arizona's tough new immigration law just hours before it was to take effect, handing a victory to the Obama administration as it tries to take control over the issue.
As news of news of the judge's decision spread, celebrations broke out among the groups who had been protesting on the lawn of the state's Capitol.
"It is a very good day for me and all the other people," said Rosamaria Soto, an undocumented immigrant who had spent the morning praying at a make shift alter in front of the Capitol.
"I think I need unity between all the people in Arizona. I love American citizens, I love the people in Congress, I love the same things: I love my family -- they do too, I love America -- they do too."
"The fight is just beginning. We will not be done fighting, not until this thing is over. It is just a matter of patience," said Angel Tavira, a fellow protester.
The law had been due to go into effect on Thursday (July 29) and, while drawing wide popular support, was opposed by U.S. President Barack Obama as well as immigration and human rights groups.
U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton blocked several 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 judge also put on hold provisions requiring immigrants to carry their papers at all times, and which made it illegal for workers without immigration papers to seek work in public places.
The Republican-controlled Arizona Legislature passed the law three months ago in an effort to drive nearly half-a-million illegal immigrants out of the border state and stem the flow of human and drug smugglers over the frontier.
It requires state and local police to investigate the immigration status of anyone they suspect of being an illegal immigrant and whom they stop for traffic or other violation.
Arizona Governor Jan Brewer said she would file an appeal to reinstate the provisions.
"Obviously it's a little bump in the road and until I get my whole arms around it, we don't really exactly know where we are going to go. We knew regardless of what happened today, of course, that one side or the other side was going to appeal. So this begins the process," she said.
Arizona state Rep. David Gowan, who worked with Senator Russell Pierce on the law, called the Judge's decision to block the law surprising.
"I have no understanding why she came out with that decision. I am kind of surprised why she was hinting at, well we might do partial, maybe not all of it, you know, I was thinking partial, but I never thought the heart of the bill was going to be touched and it is surprising because that affects the whole law enforcement ability.
"The federal government again -- and a judge, an appointed judge -- is telling the will of the people no," said Gowan.
The Arizona law is the toughest anti-immigration measure in any U.S. state. Polls show the law is backed by a solid majority of Americans and by 65 percent of Arizona voters.
Legal experts have said they expect the issue to go as high as the U.S. Supreme Court. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
