Lawsuits and a Petition for Referendum Filed Against Arizona's New Immigration Law

A lawsuit was filed today at the District Court in Phoenix and another in Tucson against the new immigration law, and petitions were filed Wednesday to refer the new law to the Nov. ballot.

Lawsuits Filed Against New Immigration Law

Today at the District Court in Phoenix, a law suit was filed against the new immigration law signed by Governor Jan Brewer last Friday. The group filing suit, The National Coalition of Latino Clergy and Christian Leaders, claim the new law is illegal because it will undermine the federal government's authority to enforce immigration law. They also allege that the new law will lead to racial profiling. For more information on this group review their website at http://www.conlamic.net.

Tucson's district court also received a lawsuit filed today by an attorney representing a Hispanic police officer employed by the city of Tucson. In his suit, Martin Escobar claims that it is "his experience as a Law Enforcement Officer, the proximity to the Mexican border does not provide any race neutral criteria or basis to suspect or identify who is lawfully in the United States. " Escobar fears the new law will cause racial profiling.

Three other groups- The ACLU of Arizona, The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, and The National Immigration Law Center have plans to file a joint suit in the coming days. These groups also feel the new law is unconstitutional.

Petition for Referendum

A petition for a referendum to refer the new law to the November ballot was filed with the state of Arizona on Wednesday April 28, 2010. In order for the referendum to be placed on the November ballot, petitions with the signatures of 76,682 registered voters within 90 days need to be turned in by the end of the legislative session, which is scheduled for the end of July. If the organizers of this petition do not reach this deadline and miss the November ballot the measure could be placed before the voters on the November 2012 election.

Was This Governor Brewer's Goal?

Since the signing of the new law last Friday by Governor Jan Brewer, Arizona has been centered in the spotlight of a much heated political debate. Not even a week after the new law was passed, lawsuits are being filed, and without a doubt many more are to come.

I don't believe these are the results Governor Brewer sought when she signed SB 1070. I do believe Governor Brewer expected to stir the stagnant political pot in Washington, D.C. over the immigration reform issues facing the state of Arizona and the US as a whole by signing the controversial law. Many people are tired of the lack of response from Washington on the immigration issues facing Arizona and the Nation, myself included. I believe Governor Brewer accomplished stirring up the fervor over immigration reform. This problem needs to be addressed and if it is by signing a bill like SB 1070 then so be it. I hope that we will begin to see some positive results from her action very soon instead of the negative lawsuits and long drawn out petitions.

Sources:
Law Suits: http://www.azcentral.com/news/election/

Referendum: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles