LGBT group asks Court to uphold ruling against Arizona immigration law

More than 100 organizations have filed a friend-of-the-court brief asking that the U.S. Supreme Court uphold a decision blocking key elements of Arizona’s controversial anti-immigrant statute.

The list of organizations signed on to the amicus brief includes Lambda Legal, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and League of United Latin American Citizens.

The case is Arizona v. United States and the focus is a federal court decision, along with an appeals court’s affirmation, enjoining key sections of SB1070. The state wants the U.S. Supreme Court to review an injunction against provisions of SB 1070 granted by the U.S. District Court of Arizona and affirmed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

The most significant provision barred from being enforced requires law enforcement personnel to determine an individual’s immigrant status during any lawful stop, detention or arrest when there is reason to suspect the person is in the country illegally.

The amicus filers argue that SB 1070 will lead to racial profiling, discrimination and anti-immigrant extremism.

“SB 1070, and the copycat laws it has spawned in other states, forces people into the shadows and will exacerbate the fear and distrust that dissuade many LGBT immigrants and people of color from seeking protection from – or offering to assist – law-enforcement officials,” said Lambda attorney Iván Espinoza-Madrigal.

He continued, “LGBT immigrants and people of color are particularly vulnerable because SB 1070 criminalizes people based on their appearance. The LGBT community knows all too well how easily people who are perceived to ‘look different’ or ‘act different’ can be singled out for harassment and persecution. SB 1070 will also deter people from seeking medical care and lifesaving treatment for HIV/AIDS.”

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