POLITICO (Article by MJ Lee): Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer celebrated the Supreme Court’s ruling Monday on her state’s tough immigration law, calling the court’s decision a “victory for the rule of law.”
“Today’s decision by the U.S. Supreme Court is a victory for the rule of law. It is also a victory for the 10th Amendment and all Americans who believe in the inherent right and responsibility of states to defend their citizens,” the Republican governor said in a statement. “After more than two years of legal challenges, the heart of SB 1070 can now be implemented in accordance with the U.S. Constitution.”
In a highly anticipated ruling, the Supreme Court upheld one of the key provisions of the Arizona law, allowing police officers to check the immigration status of any individual who has been stopped for questioning if there is reason to believe that the person is in the country illegally. Three other provisions of the law were struck down.
Brewer, who signed S.B. 1070 into law in 2010 and on Monday hailed the high court’s decision a “legal victory,” said she would remain focused on enforcing the immigration law “in an even-handed manner.”
“The case for S.B. 1070 has always been about our support for the rule of law. That means every law, including those against both illegal immigration and racial profiling,” she said. “Law enforcement will be held accountable should this statute be misused in a fashion that violates an individual’s civil rights.”
The governor also predicted that the legal battles surrounding the immigration law were far from over.
“Our critics are already preparing new litigation tactics in response to their loss at the Supreme Court, and undoubtedly will allege inequities in the implementation of the law,” she said. “As I said two years ago on the day I signed SB 1070 into law, ‘We cannot give them that chance. We must use this new tool wisely, and fight for our safety with the honor Arizona deserves.’”
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