ACLU Lens: Supreme Court Upholds Arizona's Employer Sanctions Law

A Supreme Court decision released this morning upheld Arizona's employer sanctions law. The law, which was enacted in 2007, imposes state licensing penalties for employers who knowingly hire unauthorized workers, and requires all Arizona businesses to use the federal e-Verify system. The case was brought by a broad coalition of civil rights and business groups including the ACLU, ACLU of Arizona, Mexican-American Legal Defense and Education Fund, the National Immigration Law Center (NILC) and the United States Chamber of Commerce.

Cecillia Wang, director of the ACLU Immigrants' Rights Project, said today:

"Today's decision is a narrow one that only upholds Arizona’s specific law on employment verification. The decision has nothing to do with SB 1070 or any other state or local immigration laws. We are disappointed with today's decision, and believe it does not reflect what Congress intended."

The separate lawsuit challenging Arizona's S.B. 1070 law brought by the ACLU and its allies is still pending in district court.

In the News:

• Reuters: Court backs Arizona business immigration law
• High court backs Arizona immigration law that punishes businesses

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