The law, set to take effect July 29, already faces legal challenges from two police officers, other groups and theU.S. Justice Department, which says the law usurps the federal government's "pre-eminent authority" under the Constitution to regulate immigration.
The law's backers say Congress isn't doing anything meaningful about illegal immigration, so it's the state's duty to step up. They object to social costs and violence they say are associated with illegal immigration. View the video first and then read the talking points.
- We have had seven amnesties, and problems continue.
- I work with many immigrants who legally immigrated and sponsored their families. My college roommate, a U.S. citizen, can't sponsor her husband of 35 years, an engineer, because in the terrible Michigan economy, she can't prove financial support, and he can't find employment. But she doesn't cheat and bring him here illegally. We need to respect those who have followed our immigration laws while also recognizing the problems that exist in the process.
- There are an estimated that 2 million of the nation's roughly 12 million illegal immigrants are not eligible for deportation because they're in the process of seeking legal status. Now is that a mixed message?
- What's wrong with this picture ...
the protest is in Copley Square Boston!
- Police departments will decide the best way to teach their forces. There is no requirement that all 15,000 Arizona police officers complete the training before the law takes effect.
- The new law generally requires officers enforcing another law — like speeding or jaywalking — to question a person's immigration status if there's a reasonable suspicion that the person is in the country illegally.
- The latest lawsuit's filers, including the League of United Latin American Citizens, expect it to be heard by U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton, who is hearing the six other legal challenges. Bolton said this week that she is making no promises to rule on the lawsuits before the law takes effect.
