Resource Guide: Judge Blocks Parts of SB1070

Arizona’s immigration law, implemented July 29, got the wind knocked out of it before it took effect. One day earlier, U.S. District Court Judge Susan Bolton temporarily blocked some of the more controversial portions of Senate Bill 1070, including provisions that require immigrants to carry documents at all times, prevent undocumented workers from seeking jobs in public places, and allow police officers to check immigration status while in the process of enforcing other laws. The temporary injunction stemmed from a U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit filed against Arizona over the law at the beginning of July.

But the battle over SB1070 isn’t over yet. Bolton’s July 28 preliminary injunction left in place sections of the law that bar picking up day laborers in a vehicle or knowingly hiring undocumented immigrants, resulting in a continued immigrant exodus from Arizona. Since the law gained passage in April, it drew criticism and amicus briefs from countries across Latin America, spelling a possible negative economic impact for Arizona. Moreover, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer said her state will file an appeal to lift the injunction. Regardless of the final decision on SB1070, the law has reignited a national debate over immigration reform while sparking a series of copycat state laws.

Learn more about the law through AS/COA’s resource guide.

AS/COA Online and Americas Quarterly coverage:

• “Hard Talk: Immigration,” Arizona Governor Jan Brewer vs. New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson on the rights of states to enforce their own immigrations laws, Americas Quarterly Summer 2010
• AS/COA’s Hispanic Integration Hub offers online resources to present and promote effective private-sector integration efforts.
• AS/COA Immigration Update on state-level legislation.
• AS/COA news analysis of the Department of Justice Suit.
• AS/COA news analysis of the approval of Arizona’s immigration law.
• “Latin America Focuses on an Arizona Courtroom’s Decision on SB1070,” Jason Marczak, AQ blog.
• “Arizona Immigration Law Threatens All Immigrants…and the State Economy,” Jason Marczak, AQ blog.
• “Today’s Ruling on Arizona Law SB1070 a Vital Development,” July 28 AS/COA press release.
• Reactions from the private sector to SB1070.

Primary sources:

• U.S. District Court, District of Arizona order on preliminary injunction on portions of SB1070.
• U.S. District Court, District of Arizona website on SB1070 case information. Though Bolton’s ruling related to the Justice Department case, six other cases have been filed against SB1070 and are listed on this page.
• Arizona State Legislature overview of SB1070.
• Justice Department July 6 release announcing case against Arizona, including links to brief and complaint.
• Governor Brewer’s April 23 release announcing her signature of the bill.
• Brewer’s website page covering the response to the preliminary injunction as well as her statement regarding the ruling declaring that “[t]his fight is far from over.”
• Transcript of U.S. President Barack Obama’s July 1 speech regarding immigration reform in which he describes SB1070 as “ill conceived.”

International Reactions and Ramifications

• Release from the office of Mexican President Felipe Calderón declaring SB1070 “unacceptable racial discrimination.”
• Mexico’s Secretary of Foreign Relations’ travel warning against Arizona.
• Amicus brief filed by Mexico against SB1070.
• Bolivia, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Paraguay, and Peru follow suit, filing amicus briefs as well.
• Message from Mexico’s Secretariat of Foreign Relations in response to the preliminary injunction.
• Organization of American States Secretary General José Miguel Insulza welcomes temporary injunction.
• 2010 Border Governors Conference website, including announcement of Governor Brewer’s decision to cancel the meeting after Mexican border-state governors revealed intentions of boycotting the September event. New Mexico will host the conference, although the governors of Arizona and Texas will not attend.

Additional Coverage

• SCOTUS Blog analysis of Judge Bolton’s ruling.
• University of Pittsburgh’s JURIST website’s coverage.
• NYTimes.com features an interactive “Room for Debate” posing the question of what’s next for Arizona following Judge Bolton’s ruling.
• The Arizona Republic’s photo gallery of protests on July 29—the day SB1070 was implemented.