Today, the Supreme Court heard oral argument in Arizona v. U.S., an immigration case that pits Arizona’s state powers against the federal government. This Friday, C-SPAN will air the oral argument.
The issue before the Court is whether Arizona has the authority to enforce its own immigration law or whether that is the exclusive role of the federal government. Arizona’s law includes provisions requiring police to check the immigration status of anyone detained or suspected of being in the country illegally.
Immigrants must carry their papers at all times. Illegal immigrants are banned from soliciting for work in public places and police can arrest immigrants without a warrant if an officer believes they have committed a crime that would make them deportable.
U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton issued an injunction against some of the law’s provisions which a three judge panel at the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld. Judge Bolton in her opinion wrote that it’s the federal government’s role to decide immigration law, not the state.
Justice Elena Kagan has recused herself from the Supreme Court oral argument. She was President Obama’s Solicitor General when the federal government filed the lawsuit against Arizona.
The Supreme Court releases the oral argument audio of all cases on the Friday after the case is submitted.