法律英语:119 Is the Arizona Immigration Law Constitutio
时间:2018-12-05 作者:英语课 分类:法律英语 Legal Lad
by Adam Freedman
Today’s topic: Is the Arizona immigration law constitutional.
And now, your daily dose of legalese: This article does not create an attorney-client relationship with any reader. In other words, although I am a lawyer, I’m not your lawyer. In fact, we barely know each other. If you need personalized legal advice, contact an attorney in your community.
Is the Arizona Immigration Law Constitutional?
Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled 1 masses yearning 2 to be . . . wait a minute--not so fast. The subject of immigration stirs up intense emotions, especially along the border. In April, Arizona’s governor sparked a nationwide debate when she signed a law (SB 1070) designed to crackdown on illegal immigration. Supporters of the law say it is a necessary measure to combat the flow of undocumented aliens.
Did Arizona Push Its Law Over the Borderline?
But the law has come in for harsh criticism among civil libertarians and immigration activists 3. The Obama administration is investigating the legality of the law, various artists have announced a boycott 4 of Arizona, and Arizona Iced Tea has even posted a message on its website clarifying that the company is actually headquartered in New York! Wow. Is the Arizona immigration law really that bad?
The quick and dirty answer is that the law itself does not create any new immigration standards beyond what already exist in federal law. However, a court may find that Arizona’s enforcement of the law interferes 5 with federal supremacy 6 over immigration law.
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Back to the issue.
What Does the Arizona Immigration Law Say?
First, a quick summary of the Arizona immigration law. The law prohibits harboring or employing “unauthorized aliens,” that is, persons with no right under federal law, to reside in the U.S. It also requires police officers to verify the immigration status of people they stop for traffic violations 7 or other infractions, if they have “reasonable suspicion” to believe that the person might be in the U.S. illegally. If it appears that the person is an unauthorized alien, then the state or local police must transfer the person to the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (or “ICE”--that’s the entity 8 that used to be known as the INS).
The Law Requires “Reasonable Suspicion” to Question an Immigrant
Some critics argue that the law encourages racial profiling or unreasonable 9 searches and seizures 10. It is unlikely, however, that the law will be struck down on this basis. SB 1070 authorizes 11 police to check a person’s immigration status only if the officer has “reasonable suspicion” that the person is undocumented. “Reasonable suspicion” is a well-established legal standard for conducting certain searches. For example, as I explained in an earlier article, Are Strip Searches in School Legal?, school officials can search students based on “reasonable suspicion.”
The Arizona Law and Racial Profiling
In addition, the Arizona law states that police may not consider “race, color, or national origin” in deciding whom to question. And the law does not attempt to overturn any of the existing constitutional protections against racial profiling. It is, of course, possible that a police officer may violate a suspect’s rights while enforcing this law; however, the text of the law attempts to prevent such violations.
Why the Arizona Law Might be Unconstitutional
But the Arizona law might run into trouble for violating a different constitutional principle, known as “pre-emption.” Under this doctrine 12, certain issues are reserved exclusively for federal regulation. If you’ve ever wondered why, for example, Michigan can’t mount an invasion of Canada, or why Delaware can’t slap a tariff 13 on Chinese goods, it’s because federal law pre-empts all state action in the area of foreign relations and international trade.
Immigration is another one of those issues subject to complete federal control. The Constitution empowers Congress to establish a “uniform Rule of Naturalization,” and the Supreme 14 Court has expressly upheld federal supremacy in this area since the late nineteenth century. What makes the Arizona law interesting is that it attempts to get around this by incorporating federal immigration law. Basically, the law simply adds certain measures of state enforcement to what the feds are already doing.
The Supreme Court has Allowed Some State Laws on Immigration
In 1976, the Supreme Court (DeCanas v. Bica) upheld a California law prohibiting businesses from knowingly employing unauthorized aliens. The Court held that states can regulate illegal immigrants in a manner consistent with federal law, provided they are trying to protect a vital state interest. In the case of Arizona, the law’s proponents 15 say that Arizona has a vital interest in fighting human smuggling 16 and kidnapping along the border.
Is the Arizona Law “Harmonious 17” with Federal Law?
But opponents of SB 1070 contend that the law is not truly harmonious with federal regulation. For example, the law arguably undermines federal enforcement strategy by alienating 18 Latino organizations that might otherwise cooperate with federal officials. There’s also the risk that Arizona officials might interpret federal immigration law differently from the federal ICE officials.
Though these appear to be potential outcomes, a court may find that they are not obvious from the text of the law. In which case, SB1070 might survive an initial court challenge. But don’t be surprised if the law comes back to court after it’s been in operation for a year or two.
Thank you for reading Legal Lad’s Quick and Dirty Tips for a More Lawful 19 Life. Thanks again to our sponsor this week, Go To Meeting. Visit Go To Meeting.com/podcast and sign up for a free 45 day trial of their online conferencing service. That’s Go To Meeting.com/podcast for a free 45 day trial.
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- We huddled together for warmth. 我们挤在一块取暖。
- We huddled together to keep warm. 我们挤在一起来保暖。
- a yearning for a quiet life 对宁静生活的向往
- He felt a great yearning after his old job. 他对过去的工作有一种强烈的渴想。
- His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
- Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- We put the production under a boycott.我们联合抵制该商品。
- The boycott lasts a year until the Victoria board permitsreturn.这个抗争持续了一年直到维多利亚教育局妥协为止。
- The noise interferes with my work. 这噪音妨碍我的工作。
- That interferes with my plan. 那干扰了我的计划。
- No one could challenge her supremacy in gymnastics.她是最优秀的体操运动员,无人能胜过她。
- Theoretically,she holds supremacy as the head of the state.从理论上说,她作为国家的最高元首拥有至高无上的权力。
- This is one of the commonest traffic violations. 这是常见的违反交通规则之例。
- These violations of the code must cease forthwith. 这些违犯法规的行为必须立即停止。
- The country is no longer one political entity.这个国家不再是一个统一的政治实体了。
- As a separate legal entity,the corporation must pay taxes.作为一个独立的法律实体,公司必须纳税。
- I know that they made the most unreasonable demands on you.我知道他们对你提出了最不合理的要求。
- They spend an unreasonable amount of money on clothes.他们花在衣服上的钱太多了。
- Seizures of illicit drugs have increased by 30% this year. 今年违禁药品的扣押增长了30%。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Other causes of unconsciousness predisposing to aspiration lung abscess are convulsive seizures. 造成吸入性肺脓肿昏迷的其他原因,有惊厥发作。 来自辞典例句
- The dictionary authorizes the two spellings 'traveler' and 'traveller'. 字典裁定traveler和traveller两种拼法都对。
- The dictionary authorizes the two spellings "honor" and "honour.". 字典裁定 honor 及 honour 两种拼法均可。
- He was impelled to proclaim his doctrine.他不得不宣扬他的教义。
- The council met to consider changes to doctrine.宗教议会开会考虑更改教义。
- There is a very high tariff on jewelry.宝石类的关税率很高。
- The government is going to lower the tariff on importing cars.政府打算降低进口汽车的关税。
- It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
- He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。
- Reviewing courts were among the most active proponents of hybrid rulemaking procedures. 复审法院是最积极的混合型规则制定程序的建议者。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法
- Proponents of such opinions were arrested as 'traitors. ' 提倡这种主张的人马上作为“卖国贼”逮捕起来。 来自辞典例句
- Some claimed that the docker's union fronted for the smuggling ring.某些人声称码头工人工会是走私集团的掩护所。
- The evidence pointed to the existence of an international smuggling network.证据表明很可能有一个国际走私网络存在。
- Their harmonious relationship resulted in part from their similar goals.他们关系融洽的部分原因是他们有着相似的目标。
- The room was painted in harmonious colors.房间油漆得色彩调和。
- The phenomena of alienation are widespread. Sports are also alienating. 异化现象普遍存在,体育运动也不例外。 来自互联网
- How can you appeal to them without alienating the mainstream crowd? 你是怎么在不疏忽主流玩家的情况下吸引住他们呢? 来自互联网