LAW WEEK COLORADO

The Colorado Hispanic Bar Association voiced opposition to Arizona’s decision to implement SB 1070 (otherwise known as “Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act”), a law that invades the federal government’s province by attempting to regulate immigration and facilitates the unconstitutional and oppressive harassment of Hispanic Americans, the association said in a press release.

The law was designed to help enforce immigration laws in Arizona. The CHBA believes this law violates the constitution.

“The legislation requires law enforcement officials to determine a person’s immigration status if the official has a ‘reasonable suspicion’ that the person is unlawfully present in the U.S and detain them if the official has ‘probable cause’ to suspect them of being removable. Thus, on its face, SB1070 impermissibly attempts to grant Arizona law enforcement officials the power to determine immigration status and effect the deportation of undocumented immigrants—functions expressly reserved for the federal government and its designated officials under the U.S. Constitution and federal law.”

The association quotes President Obama in its statement, saying he has called the legislation “misguided,” as has former Arizona governor and current U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. “The renewed divisiveness engendered by SB1070 only makes it more difficult to build consensus toward practical and humane immigration policy that reflects the core American values of freedom, equality, economic opportunity, and tolerance.”

The press release stated that the association will continue to challenge this bill and any similar proposed laws in the future.