CLINIC Encouraged by Supreme Court Decision on Immigration

By: Wendy Rhein

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:  Wendy Rhein 202 635 5825
wrhein@cliniclegal.org

CLINIC ENCOURAGED BY SUPREME COURT DECISION ON IMMIGRATION

Washington, D.C. (June 25, 2012)  The Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC) is encouraged by today’s 5-3 Supreme Court decision to strike down three of the four provisions of Arizona’s immigration law that were challenged earlier this year.   

“This decision is a broad affirmation of federal supremacy in the area of immigration, and that is very positive,” said Maria M. Odom, CLINIC’s Executive Director.  “However, the Court’s decision to block several components of the Arizona law does not take the place of much-needed federal immigration reform.   CLINIC’s affiliates throughout the country will continue to work to keep families together and bring a measure of justice to a broken immigration system.”

Though the Court decided that the troubling “show me your papers” provision could not be blocked at this time, CLINIC will continue to monitor pending legal and civil rights challenges to this section, which threatens essential civil liberties and family unity.  CLINIC supports the arguments presented by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in its amicus brief to the Supreme Court.

The Court’s decision does not change the law in Arizona immediately.   CLINIC and its affiliates in Arizona will continue to vigilantly provide legal updates and information as the situation unfolds.

In addition to its legal resources and affiliate locator map, CLINIC has dedicated a section of its website to SB1070, as well as an interactive map with an extensive library of resources on the decision, similar laws in other states, and tools for addressing immigration enforcement.

# # # #