Boom! Federal Judge Rules In Favor Of “Show Your Papers” In Arizona Immigration Case

06 Sep, 2015 by Terresa Monroe-Hamilton

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Finally, some good news. Not only did a judge last week dismiss charges against Sheriff Joe Arpaio and his deputies, now a federal judge has ruled in favor of the “show your papers” section of Arizona immigration law. This means that police will be able to stop individuals and ask for their immigration status. The plaintiffs did not prove that “Hispanics” were being singled out as anyone can be stopped and asked for said proof of status. This is a very good precedent setting ruling and I am thrilled to see it.

The Arizona-Mexico border fence near Naco, Arizona, March 29, 2013. REUTERS/Samantha Sais

From Reuters:

A federal judge has upheld part of Arizona’s contentious immigration law, rejecting claims that the so-called “show your papers” section of the law discriminated against Hispanics.

The ruling by U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton on Friday was on the last of seven challenges to the 2010 law. The section being upheld allows police in Arizona to check the immigration status of anyone they stop.

Bolton ruled that immigration rights activists failed to show that police would enforce the law differently for Hispanics than other people. The section is sometimes called the “show your papers” provision.

The judge also upheld a section that let police check to see if a detainee is in the United States illegally. Bolton voided any laws targeting day laborers.

Karen Tumlin, the legal director of the National Immigration Law Center, one of the parties to the suit, said the group was evaluating its options.

“We will continue working on behalf of our courageous plaintiffs to show that Arizona can do better than this disgraceful law,” she said in a statement.

Bolton’s ruling came two days after a federal judge approved a deal between the U.S. Department of Justice and Arizona’s Maricopa County to resolve accusations of civil rights abuses and dismissed the department’s lawsuit against Sheriff Joe Arpaio and his deputies.

Of course the opposition is calling this ‘disgraceful.’ These are the people and their attorneys who want unfettered illegal immigration and our borders basically erased. Looks like they’ll have to live with some disappointment over this one thank goodness. Not only can police now check for immigration status, they can check to see if individuals are here legally. Here’s to hoping this spreads to other states especially along the southern border. We have a long, long way to go. But I’ll take a win where we can get one as we do battle.