EDITORIAL: Where Capitol Hill has failed us, perhaps the high court can succeed
However you view Arizona’s immigration enforcement law, Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer’s appeal of a federal judge’s decision to block the state law’s most controversial elements is something to cheer.
U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton’s ruling is undoubtedly correct — immigration is clearly a federal matter, not a state one. On the other hand, we’re happy to see that the state of Arizona has appealed the decision, if only because it means the issue moves closer to the largely conservative U.S. Supreme Court, where we may get lasting clarity on the issue of states passing their own immigration laws.
More importantly, it may be enough to shame the lawmakers on Capitol Hill into doing something.
Here’s a prime example of dysfunctional government: In Arizona, most Republicans and even some Democrats insist they want Congress to do something about immigration reform, including sealing our borders. Unfortunately, on Capitol Hill many Democratic lawmakers are afraid to tackle the issue this close to Election Day. Republicans don’t want to solve the problem, either, because it robs them of a terrific campaign issue.
So nothing gets done.
Our southern border states are in an uproar over the matter. If the U.S. Supreme Court has any concern about this issue ripping our people apart, then it should exercise its prerogative of fast-tracking the case to the high court so that the matter can be addressed more promptly than Congress seems willing to permit. This not only would allow states to know what is and what is not permissible but might force Congress’ hand.
And if Brewer really wants to drive home her point, she should take the 1,100 illegal immigrants sitting in Maricopa County Jail awaiting prosecution for violent crimes such as murder, kidnapping and aggravated assault, load them all into buses, haul them to Washington, D.C., and dump them at the steps of the Capitol.
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