A judge's ruling Wednesday voiding key parts of Arizona's immigration law sets up an interesting dynamic. Although vocal public interest groups and the Obama administration have lambasted the law, which requires police to ask people about their immigration status whenever there is reason to believe they may be in the state illegally, polls show most Americans support the law. Arizona is going to appeal, and the case seems likely to go all the way to the Supreme Court.
The ruling was greeted with jubilation by protesters in Arizona, who had organized public challenges to the law, hoping to overwhelm police and create embarrassing public incidents. Opponents of the law also rallied and partied in Mexico, whose government has vocally opposed the law and has blatantly encouraged its citizens to illegally cross the U.S. border.
The Associated Press story about the court ruling quoted by name people who admitted being illegal immigrants. They expressed relief that they wouldn't have to deal with a law that could get them sent back to their native country and seemed unconcerned that being identified as illegal immigrants would have any consequences. The attitude of some illegal immigrants that "we're here and you can't do anything about it" is what galls many Americans who support Arizona's efforts to enforce U.S. immigration laws, which are flouted with impunity by millions of people. With so many Americans supporting a crackdown on illegal immigration, politicians up for election this year might be cautious about their support of public and private efforts to overturn the Arizona law. It's unlikely that the case will reach a final resolution before the Supreme Court before the November elections. Immigration could be a major issue in many elections across the country.
Images of people celebrating their dodging of immigration laws are not likely to play well with many voters.
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