Undocumented Immigrants Again Find Themselves Caught in U.S. Power Struggle
Obama vs. U.S. Supreme Court: "Undocumented
immigrants have been caught in a power struggle between two forces vying over
the nation's destiny. The only certainty is that immigration reform remains a
long way off, and the accumulation of regulations is making life increasingly impossible
for the states."
In its eagerness to punish undocumented workers, the
state of Arizona insists on enacting immigration laws that under the U.S. Constitution
are the exclusive domain of the federal government. On this occasion, it has enacted
a law that forces employers to verify the immigration status of their workers.
The law was challenged by a number of human rights organizations and the Chamber of Commerce, unlikely traveling companions if one
considers their differing principles. But the Arizona authorities appealed to
the nation's highest court, which in the end ruled in its favor.
With this precedent, the states will now be able to perform
functions that correspond exclusively to the federal government.
The immediate consequence of this decision is that at
least eight states that have passed laws against people without immigration
documents will likely appeal decisions by federal judges ordering them to
suspend enforcement of such laws.
Meanwhile, the governor
of Arizona, encouraged by the ruling, has also said she will appeal to the
Supreme Court to be given the green light on controversial law SB 1070 that, among other absurdities, authorizes the police
to verify the immigration status of anyone who in their judgment looks
undocumented.
It's no secret that the Supreme Court is currently
composed of judges whose decisions frequently reflect a clear conservative
ideology. The majority of decisions by five of its members have benefited
everything that has to do with free enterprise and large corporations. One
wonders if, given the open displeasure of some court members with President
Obama's government, they would go so far as to oppose the Chamber Of Commerce, one
of their natural allies whose leading members are some of these very same large
corporations.
Surely the judges of the Court still resent the
wake-up call delivered during President Obama's State of the Union speech, when
he spoke of the Court's extraordinary decision
to open the door for large corporations to funnel unlimited contributions to
political campaigns.
On that occasion, rather than zeal to preserve the
spirit of the Constitution, the decision of five of its members seemed intended
to remind the president that they, too, are in possession of power.
Posted by WORLDMEETS.US
Again, undocumented immigrants have been caught in a
power struggle between two forces vying over the nation's destiny. The only certainty
is that immigration reform remains a long way off, and the accumulation of
regulations is making life increasingly impossible for the states.
