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Two Lawsuits Filed Against Arizona Immigration Law

By Jeralyn, Section Civil Liberties
Posted on Thu Apr 29, 2010 at 09:08:09 PM EST
Tags: Arizona, SB1070, immigrants rights (all tags)
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Two lawsuits challenging SB 1070, the Arizona immigration law, were filed in federal court today.

In one of the suits filed Thursday, a Tucson police officer, Martin Escobar, 45, a 15-year veteran, claims the law, which requires officers “when practicable” to stop and check the legal status of people they reasonably suspect may be illegal immigrants, would compel him to racially profile.

Mr. Escobar argues that the law does not specify what criteria to use in deciding who might be in the country illegally, and that Tucson’s heavily Hispanic population and proximity to the Mexican border would force him to question people based on their ethnicity, exposing him to civil suits.

I've uploaded the complaint here. [More...]

In the second suit,

A group of clergy members, concerned that church vans and other vehicles transporting people in heavily Hispanic neighborhoods would become a target of police suspicion and detention, filed a petition in federal court, asking a judge to rule on the constitutionality of the law before it is scheduled to take effect this summer.

Among other things, the suit asserts that while the state law might closely mirror federal regulations, it improperly infringes on federal authority by making it a crime to not carry immigration papers, while under federal law it is a civil infraction.

The second suit was filed by the National Coalition of Latino Clergy and Christian Leaders. I've uploaded the complaint here.
< ACLU to Challenge AZ Immigration Law, Dems to Introduce Immigration Bill | Thursday Night Open Thread >

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    Two Lawsuits Filed Against Arizona Immigration Law | 5 comments (5 topical)

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    I saw news about the lawsuit by Escobar (none / 0) (#1)
    by txpolitico67 on Fri Apr 30, 2010 at 12:37:49 AM EST
    Dollar to a dog-biscuit the right will smear him and call him a "sympathizer" because he was born in Mexico.  

    I have been following ALL things AZ.  I am beyond appalled.  Here's some good news though...

    http://tinyurl.com/3ydffsl

    Gov Perry (yuk) says NO to AZ immigrant law in Texas.  For once, he's gotten something RIGHT

    if he got is right (none / 0) (#2)
    by Capt Howdy on Fri Apr 30, 2010 at 09:42:00 AM EST
    its because he knows better than to try it not because he would have the tiniest qualm about doing the same thing or worse if he thought he would get one political mile out of it.


    Parent
    Perry in this instance (none / 0) (#3)
    by jeffinalabama on Fri Apr 30, 2010 at 11:46:37 AM EST
    is like the bugs that AREN'T attracted to the zapper.

    I should be happy for good news regardless, though.

    Parent

    Perry (none / 0) (#4)
    by jbindc on Fri Apr 30, 2010 at 01:28:46 PM EST
    As you well know, is in a fight for his job in a state with almost 37% Hispanic population and several major cities that could lose tons of money in any boycott.

    Parent
    Site Violator! (none / 0) (#6)
    by Zorba on Mon Oct 10, 2011 at 06:43:59 PM EST


    Two Lawsuits Filed Against Arizona Immigration Law | 5 comments (5 topical)

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