NINTH CIRCUIT COURT CONFIRMS THAT ARIZONA'S SB 1070 ANTI-IMMIGRANT LAW CANNOT TAKE EFFECT
MALDEF Welcomes Warning to Anti-Immigrant Proposals in Other States
PHOENIX, AZ – The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals today upheld the preliminary injunction issued by the District Court in late July 2010 barring the most egregious provisions of SB 1070 from being implemented. The appeal, filed by Arizona, in the case filed by the federal government following the case filed by a coalition of civil rights groups, had been pending for several months. The three-judge panel's decision affirms a decision by District Court Judge Susan Bolton.
"The Ninth Circuit decision stands as a strong warning to any state that is still considering enacting its own unconstitutional regulation of immigration by replicating or expanding upon Arizona's ill-fated SB 1070. Such legislation will only invite costly litigation that will inevitably result in the unconstitutional laws being struck down," stated Thomas A. Saenz, President and General Counsel, MALDEF.
Victor Viramontes, MALDEF National Senior Counsel, stated, “Arizona's racial profiling law has been blocked by a second federal court. Arizona's illegal attempt put in place its own immigration system was doomed from the beginning, and this important ruling frees the people of Arizona from being subjected to this radical law."
The Ninth Circuit opinion can be found here:
http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/opinions/2011/04/11/10-16645.pdf
Founded in 1968, MALDEF is the nation’s leading Latino legal civil rights organization. Often described as the “law firm of the Latino community,” MALDEF promotes social change through advocacy, communications, community education and litigation in the areas of education, employment, immigrant rights and political access. For more information on MALDEF, please visit: www.maldef.org.
For all media inquiries, please contact Laura Rodriguez.
