Political Quotes

“today the Supreme Court correctly struck down the vast majority of the mean-spirited Arizona law; that is, of course, the immigration law. While I agree with the Court's decision to invalidate three troubling provisions of Arizona's flawed law, there are actually four provisions. Three were declared unconstitutional, one was upheld. I am concerned about the section they upheld. I am surprised they did, but they did. The Justices upheld a measure that allows police to conduct immigration checks on anyone they suspect of being in the country illegally, even if their only evidence is an accent or maybe the color of their skin. Allowing Arizona to keep its ``papers please'' system of immigration checks invites racial profiling. It gives Arizona officials free rein to detain anyone they suspect of being in Arizona without documentation. As long as this provision remains, innocent American citizens are in danger of being detained by police unless they carry immigration papers with them at all times. However, it is reassuring that the Court left the door open to further court challenges of this unsound provision. I say to the Presiding Officer and to anyone within the sound of my voice, someone with my skin color or yours, I do not think we are going to be carrying our immigration papers with us everyplace we go. But if someone is in Arizona and speaks with a little bit of an accent or their skin color is brown, they better have their papers with them.…”