Monday’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling overturning key provisions in Arizona’s illegal immigration law opens the door for courts to strike down similar provisions in states like Texas that have tried to make it a crime to live and work in the U.S. illegally.
A local Hispanic advocacy group says it worries that the portion of Arizona's controversial immigration law that was not struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court could create an unwelcome environment if similar laws are enacted.
The high court struck down parts of SB 1070, including allowing police to arrest suspected undocumented migrants without warrants, but upheld the part of the law requiring police to check the immigration status of anyone they suspect is not in the United States legally.
"It causes a lot of pause on our part, because it could create an atmosphere and a climate for law enforcement officers to go after racial profiling, and we've had experiences with that," said Renè Martinez, district director of the League of United Latin American Citizens District 3.
But Lynne Rambo, Texas Wesleyan School of Law professor, said that has yet to be addressed.
"What the Supreme Court said today --it's not even in effect yet," Rambo said. "We haven't had the opportunity to see it in action. We don't know if the state will allow any racial profiling or whether or not it will be enforced, so that's still an open issue."
