Court strikes down provisions of anti-immigrant statute

On Monday the US Supreme Court struck down three provisions of Arizona's anti-immigrant statute but left stand the ability of law enforcement to ask motorists stopped for minor traffic offenses to provide proof of immigration status.

I guess we should be pleased that the Supremes thought the state legislature went just a wee bit too far by requiring immigrants to carry their immigration papers on them at all times. So much for that presumption of innocence, kid. The nine in robes also decreed that the police could no longer arrest immigrants without warrant if they thought the immigrant committed a crime that would lead to deportation.

There's no possible way such a scheme could ever lead the police to profile motorists, is there? Is there a chance that anyone with brown skin could find themselves under suspicion for not being in Arizona on the up-and-up?

But, lest you fear the law could lead to dark days ahead for immigrants, rest assured that Arizona governor Jan Brewer said the decision was a victory for the "rule of law" and that she was certain that the law would be implemented fairly by law enforcement officials.

Because you know, Ms. Brewer, that the police have never used a statute for the purpose of oppressing a group of people. The police have never used alleged traffic violations as a pretext for stopping a motorist. Of course Ms. Brewer has probably never found herself on the opposite side of a window as someone asks her to prove she's here legally.

Oh, that's right, Ms. Brewer is a whiter shade of pale.

Maybe Ms. Brewer and the backers of what's left of the law should take a look to their past to see just who's a guest in the Grand Canyon State and who's not. But for the government's campaign of genocide against the Native Americans, the makeup of Arizona would be quite different.

In the meantime, Justice Scalia had a conniption fit at the mere suggestion that President Obama might not enforce federal immigration law based on his decision not to deport young people who came to this country with their parents. While the President's decision was certainly an attempt to reach out to solidify his support in the Hispanic community, it was also a realization that you can't blame a child for the acts of a parent.

The Court's decision on Monday will open the door for the police in Arizona to profile motorists based on skin color and appearance. And you can count on it happening - no matter how much Ms. Brewer says otherwise.