Immigration Reform Should Not Compromise Civil Rights

July 9, 2010


This week the Justice Department announced its decision to legally challenge Arizona's law forcing local and state police to check immigrant's legal status. In a suit filed with the District of Arizona, the Obama administration contends the Constitution and federal law do not permit the development of a patchwork of state and local immigration policies throughout the country.

The 25-page brief argues the paper is unconstitutional because it takes away immigration law enforcement from the federal government and into the hands of states. Immigrant advocates are also critical of the law because the law potentially leads to racial profiling.

Since its enactment, S.B. 1070 has continued to stir controversy both in Arizona and throughout the country for its seemingly draconian approach to the dealing with the immigration question.

Criticism of the law has not been relegated to civic and immigration groups only. The police chiefs from 10 major cities across the country, including Phoenix and Tucson AZ, have expressed strong disapproval and outrage as to the strains the law will put on the resources of local police departments.

Although MPAC welcomes the Justice Departments suit against S.B. 1070, our nation's policy-makers must address the underlying reasons for this law. It is the lack of political will which has forced state and local governments to take up the immigration issue. Immigration enforcement and policies are federal mandates and the federal government, especially Congress, must move beyond rhetoric and political maneuvering when it comes to the immigration question.

Last week MPAC attended President Obama's speech that outlined his vision for comprehensive immigration reform before an invitation-only crowd at American University. During his remarks he also noted failure at the federal level to address immigration issues due to the system currently being broken and dangerous.

Later this summer MPAC will be releasing its policy paper on immigration reform. In it, the publication will discuss the importance of comprehensive immigration reform from a Muslim American faith-based and policy perspective. It will tackle issues, which include: 1) reforming the legal immigration system, 2) dealing with undocumented individuals, and 3) strengthening border security and immigration law enforcement.




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