A federal judge on Wednesday decided to stop Arizona’s controversial immigration law, just before it would have gone into effect. That move averted what authorities feared would have been numerous protests and confrontations between activists and police. Experts say now the Arizona issue may end up in the Supreme Court.
Senator Lindsey Graham appeared on Fox News Wednesday, saying that he has pushed for immigration and border security reform since he took office seven years ago, and that President Bush pushed the legislation very hard as well.
We failed then. But we have a chance now to send more border patrol agents to the border, more unmanned aerial vehicles. I would urge the President to focus on border security right now, that would stop this law from spreading to other states.
The Associated Press reported that Judge Susan Bolton indicated in her ruling that the federal government’s case has a good chance at succeeding, trumping state law. She put on hold the part of the new law that would require officers to check a person’s immigration status if they were enforcing other laws, and blocked officers from making warrantless arrests of suspected illegal immigrants. But in the temporary injunction the judge banned illegal immigrants from soliciting employment in public places.
Graham said that the confidence of the American people needs to be restored by increased border security.
Illegal immigrants are being exploited. Illegal immigrants come across the border who kill Americans. There are drug traffickers. It’s a terrible mess. I’ll put my resolve to fix the issue up against anyone. But I’m just one person. We need a comprehensive reform solution. But that’s not going to happen until you do border security.
Graham says he’s willing to work with President Obama for a solution but border security has to be part of the deal.
The Los Angeles Times reported that the anticipated change in law led to thousands of immigrants leaving their homes, and many businesses who cater to the immigrant community closing their doors.
