Groups Challenge SCOTUS Ruling on Ariz. Immigration Law
Coalition of civil rights groups asks federal judge to block "show me your papers" provision while case is argued against it.
| Posted Wednesday, July 18, 2012, at 4:19 PM
Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images.
A coalition of civil rights advocates made a bid Tuesday to challenge the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on Arizona’s immigration law
Reuters reports that religious leaders, business organizations, and other groups filed a motion in federal court asking the judge to block the law's so-called "show me your papers" provision from taking effect while they present a case on its (un)constitutionality. The filing is part of a 2010 lawsuit challenging the law.
The Supreme Court struck down three provisions of Arizona’s 2010 immigration law in June, but upheld the part that requires police officers to check the immigration status of people they stop for other reasons.
In a 65-page filing, plaintiffs claim the law violates the Fourth Amendment and pre-empts federal law, the Associated Press explains. Moreover, it would "undermine the trust between the police and community members." Others are concerned that, in a state where the population is more than 30 percent Latino, the provision will lead to racial profiling.
The group also asked for an injunction on another section of the law, which makes it illegal to harbor illegal immigrants, CNN reports.
A spokesman for Gov. Jan Brewer called the legal action "unsurprising," and dismissed it, saying the Supreme Court has "already spoken unanimously on the constitutionality of this provision."
