Which statement about immigration federalism is false?
States’ involvement in immigration is partly due to their interest in preventing undocumented immigrants from accessing public services such as education and welfare benefits.
Since the 1990s, ?states have increasingly moved into the policy domain of immigration.
Federal immigration laws trump state laws.
The Arizona v. ?United States decision struck down all Arizona’s most restrictive provisions on undocumented immigration.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The false statement is:
“The Arizona v. United States decision struck down all Arizona’s most restrictive provisions on undocumented immigration.”
Explanation:
The Arizona v. United States decision, decided by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2012, did not strike down all of Arizona’s provisions regarding undocumented immigration. Rather, the Court struck down some key parts of Arizona’s Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act (commonly known as SB 1070), but allowed other provisions to stand.
The Court ruled against the following provisions of the Arizona law:
- The provision requiring state law enforcement officers to check the immigration status of anyone they stop, detain, or arrest if there is reasonable suspicion that the individual is an undocumented immigrant. The Court found this to be unconstitutional because it interfered with the federal government’s authority to regulate immigration.
- The criminalization of undocumented immigrants seeking employment. The Court determined this conflicted with federal law, which regulates the employment of immigrants.
However, the Court upheld the part of the law that required immigrants to carry registration documents and that allowed Arizona officers to arrest individuals without a warrant if they were believed to be in the U.S. illegally. The decision did not strike down the entire law, as some parts remained in effect.
The decision reflects a core issue of immigration federalism, which involves the balance of power between state and federal governments. Immigration, historically a federal responsibility, has seen increasing involvement from states, especially as they seek to address the economic and social impact of undocumented immigration. States, like Arizona, have sought to implement stricter immigration measures, but the federal government has emphasized its preemptive authority over immigration laws.