One ought to analyze the chain of events that occurred since the Supreme Court called one part of Arizona’s immigration law constitutional. Obama, with all of his alleged power – and vindictiveness – got the last word.
On Monday, the United States Supreme Court announced that Arizona has every legal and constitutional right to ask persons who could possibly be illegal aliens to produce proof of legal immigration when they are being stopped for other infractions. This, naturally, was considered a victory for Arizona’s Governor Jan Brewer and her strong following in her state and throughout the nation.
On the downside of Monday’s announcement for Brewer and her followers was the opinion of the Supreme Court that three other portions of the immigration bill – SB 1070 – are not constitutional.
Brewer accepted the decision positively and claimed victory for the portion of the law that remains. Obama had every right to claim victory as well with having three-fourths of the law knocked down by the high court, as he wanted.
The portions of the immigration legislation that are not going to fly in Arizona include the part that requires persons to carry registration papers. Also, Arizona’s effort to punish companies that hire illegal aliens is considered unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. Additionally, the Supreme Court justices ruled that the authorization of warrantless arrests for deportable crimes cannot occur.
Winning three-fourths of the decision, however, wasn’t enough for Obama. He burst the immigration law decision’s balloon by announcing that Arizona will not get federal support in their efforts to enforce the part of the law that is ruled constitutional by the Supreme Court.
Specifically, shortly after the decision was announced by the Supreme Court on Monday, the Obama administration announced that it is revoking agreements with Arizona police over the enforcement of federal immigration laws.
If it sounds unbelievable, it is. Yet, it’s what Arizona has been told via a message to ICE – the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement – which said don’t enforce the law. In Brewer’s own terms she said that Obama has told Arizona to “drop dead”. Though crass-sounding, Brewer shocked reaction is right on the mark.
The message to Americans is that if a state has a conjunctive law with a federal law that President Obama doesn’t enforce and does not like, he will still do what he wants rather than what the law states. He will instruct those involved with the law, of which he disapproves, to back off.
Specifically, as instructed, the United States’ Department of Homeland Security said that it is revoking its 287 (g) agreements with Arizona law enforcement agencies. Those agreements were designed to be a partnership with the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement that were to give local police the power to enforce immigration laws.
President Obama has arrogantly ignored the judicial system’s decision and the constitution, and treated the federal executive branch of our government as the supreme authority.
As of Monday night, the concern is not how much one agrees with or disagrees with Arizona’s immigration law and the Supreme Court’s decision on the law. The stronger concern is that the United States has a president who refuses to respect the judicial system’s Supreme Court decision and once again has bypassed the United States’ three-branch form of government.
About Scott Paulson
Scott Paulson writes political commentary for Examiner.com and teaches English at a community college in the Chicago area. The views and opinions expressed in this post are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of CBS Local.
