WASHINGTON, D.C.–The Hispanic Leadership Fund today released the following statement from its President Mario H. Lopez, reacting to today Supreme Court ruling Arizona’s SB 1070 immigration law:
“Today’s Supreme Court ruling shows once again that government expansion is not a constructive way to address concerns over illegal immigration. The court struck down three of the four issues at stake and the majority decision explicitly states that there could be major Constitutional problems with the implementation of the “papers, please” provision that stands for the moment, as the only relevant issue to that provision addressed in this case was the alleged conflict between state and federal law.
“Although that portion of the law stands, there are many points of contention with how exactly it can be implemented in a way that upholds Constitutional protections for all residents of Arizona. There is no reason to have confidence in the ability or willingness of officials like Maricopa County Sheriff Arpaio to implement this law in such a Constitutional manner, if indeed that is possible.
“Today is also yet another reminder that President Obama failed in his promise to address immigration reform in the first year of his presidency. Obama has been all-too happy to use Latinos as political pawns. Sadly, politics and cynicism have replaced hope and change as President Obama’s mantra.
“There is also a clear lesson here for anyone who believes that Arizona’s SB 1070 should be a model for the nation: big government is not the answer.”
