Sunday, October 6, 2024

Civil Rights Groups and Countries Want Voices Heard in Appeal over Arizona Law

Several civil rights groups along with Mexico and 10 other Latin American countries, are asking a federal appeals court to let them file friend-of-the-court briefs in an appeal of a ruling that put parts of Arizona’s anti-immigrant law on hold.

Arizona Gov. Jane Brewer wants to have the ruling on some of the most controversial sections of SB 1070, including the provision that would force law enforcement officials to question a person’s legal status in the country, overturned.

In addition to the groups, which include the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF), the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), and the American Civil Liberties Union, a Phoenix police officer and a Latino clergy group also asked the court for permission to file their briefs urging the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco to uphold the ruling.

The other countries joining Mexico in asking to have their viewpoints considered by the appeals court are Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Paraguay and Peru.

They say that they have “an interest in ensuring they have reliable relations with the United States that aren’t frustrated by Arizona.”

Pat Dollard

KSWT