Newswise — Given the controversy and the fact the U.S. government is a party challenging the law, it makes sense that a federal court would put the Arizona immigration law on hold so the legal and constitutional questions can be discussed and pondered in a measured way, according to Rick Su, an expert on immigration law and local government at the University at Buffalo Law School.
But, Su says, what is more interesting about the court's preliminary injunction is not what parts of the law were blocked, but rather the controversial provisions of Arizona's immigration law that were left intact. "Most notably," Su says, "cities and police departments in Arizona are still prohibited from taking any steps to restrict the full enforcement of immigration laws -- irrespective of funding or its effect on community relations."
"The law also authorizes private lawsuits against cities if there is any evidence to suggest that they are discouraging immigration enforcement," Su says, "all of which leaves Arizona cities in a legal limbo: neither required to enforce immigration laws, but also prohibited from instructing its officials not to."
Additional commentary from Su and a list of other faculty is available as experts on a range of topics is available at http://newstips.buffalo.edu/tip/69.
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