Civil Rights
Block on Trump's Asylum Ban Upheld by Supreme Court
The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld, for now, part of Arizona's SB 1070 immigration law that requires officers to check a driver's immigration status during a traffic stop in some situations.
"There is a basic uncertainty about what the law means and how it will be enforced," the Court's opinion states. But at this stage, "it would be inappropriate to assume" the statute will be enforced in an unlawful way, the Court explained.
Critics, however, fear SB 1070 could lead to racial profiling. "People with the last name Roberts, Romney, or Brewer" probably won't be targeted, "but if your name is something like Gutierrez or Chung or Obama, watch out," one Democratic lawmaker told CNN.
So what can drivers expect if they're pulled over in Arizona?
The answer isn't clear, as SB 1070's traffic-stop provision hasn't yet been implemented. But here's what's supposed to happen according to the statute:
The Supreme Court's decision leaves open the possibility that Arizona's SB 1070 traffic-stop immigration checks could be unlawfully enforced in the future. If you feel you're the victim of unlawful enforcement, an experienced attorney can help fight for your rights and perhaps even challenge the law in court.
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