Two lawsuits were filed today attempting to block Arizona’s new,
restrictive immigration law. The first, was filed in the U.S. District
Court in downtown Phoenix by the National Coalition of Latino Clergy
and Christian Leaders. In the suit, the organization claims that the
law is illegal because it assumes the federal government’s role in
immigration enforcement and the law may lead to racial profiling. The
coalition represents 20,000 churches in 34 states throughout the U.S.
The second suit was filed in the U.S. District Court in Tucson by a
lawyer representing a Tucson police officer and additionally attempts
to block the law. Three other groups are currently also planning to
file suits in the near future. These groups include the ACLU of
Arizona, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund and
the National Immigration Law Center, all of whom claim the law is
unconstitutional and supports racial profiling.
