Submitted by: Submitted by samclaughlin
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Category: Societal Issues
Date Submitted: 02/01/2014 10:19 AM
Immigration Policy: Federalism vs. Arizona State Jurisdiction
Shirley A. McLaughlin
Conflict over immigration policies: National vs. State Jurisdiction
Within the State of Arizona, as with the other regional border states, there exists a debate over determining and enforcing immigration laws. The State of Arizona brought a lawsuit against the federal government because the perceived failure of enforcing immigration regulations. Arizona passed legislation SB 1070 to provide legal jurisdiction to prosecute immigrants that entered the state illegally (Arizona State Senate, 2010). The Supreme Court overturned the Arizona legislation finding for the federal government’s jurisdiction over immigration policy and enforcement. The Supreme Court did find history shows the state’s right to regulate immigration. According to Cannato, “federalism and immigration have interacted in complicated was since our republic was created….immigration was an issue largely left up to the individual states to regulate” (2012, para. 2). Similar problems occur in other border states; how to fix a broken immigration policy. “But on the question of whom should determine just who can enter the country and under what conditions, the Constitution is silent” (Cannato, 2012, para. 8).
Organizational Behavior
At the heart of the issue for some residents of Arizona is the human rights violations occurring beginning with racial bigotry on behalf of law enforcement and board patrols when it comes to illegal immigrants. According to Green (2013) the Pima County coroner’s office performs more autopsies on unidentified bodies than any other county in the country. Human rights organizations often find bodies along the border to Mexico when leaving out food, water and blankets in popular border crossings. Vigilantes scouring the desert for illegal immigrants often find the caches and destroy them after assuming the self-appointed role of border enforcement (No More Deaths, 2013). Due process...