Sandra Day O'Connor: Arizona Must Show It's Not 'Biased' In Light Of Immigration Law

WASHINGTON — Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor says Arizona must figure out how to show it appreciates, respects and admires the Hispanics who live there after passing a tough new immigration law.

The law will make entering the country illegally a state crime in Arizona and requires local police to enforce it. It has sparked demonstrations across the country, predominantly from Hispanics, who feel they will be targeted by racial profiling.

O'Connor tells ABC's "Good Morning America" that Hispanics have lived in Arizona since long before it was a state, and Arizona must now show it is not "as a whole, a biased state."

The former Arizona state senator and judge declined to say whether the law is constitutional, but says she is sure "sections of it will be challenged."

Comments

[ugly american]

07:26 PM on 06/01/2010

Ms. O'Connor is a very wise lady and was a good justice. She has read the law to be sure and she is right. There wll be challenges to it but I think from some angles that would surprize people.
There will be a challenge that too many hispanics are being deported under it. (no real suprize)
There will probably be a suit countersuit from a Santuary City. (Surprize!)
And there will likely be lawsuits from businesses that they do not want to use E-Verify or that they have the right to hire anyone they want. (Surprize!)
But as far as it's Constitutionality, the law offers more protection than current US Statutes and takes pains to see it fairly and equally applied. It is going to be tough to effectively challenge it.

[MsLiz]

05:48 PM on 06/18/2010

No one has been deported. The law has not gone into effect yet.

[dl63]

11:08 AM on 05/30/2010

Was just watching the sunday morning news programs, and George Will made the point while discussing the 2,000 troops that O is sending to the boarder. He said, we found out what stops illegals from crossing the boarder: A WORLD CLASS RECESSION. If we want to get serious about stopping illegal immigration, it's about time we deal with the REAL crime: ILLEGAL HIRING. Have mandatory six month jail time for any owner, manager, or ceo of business who hires an illegal immigrant. You'll see illegal immigration clamp up like crabs a $$ at low tide. Let's finally get serious.

[wayne a]

04:15 PM on 05/31/2010

DL63,first it was only 1200 troops.next,what you said would work in a perfect world.they said there are thousands of illegals out there with forged drivers licenses and forged ssn and cards.so then where do you go? they could come up with a card thats almost impossible to duplicate and set up checks and balances for the employer to check all this out but the gov. doesn't seem willing!

[dl63]

11:26 PM on 05/31/2010

Let's make it simple. Everyone who works needs a taxpayer id. That's already in place. If the business did the proper background check on the taxpayer id, then all is good, no problems. If not, and the more likely scenario is they are working off the books, they do time.

[UnaBohemia]

11:11 PM on 05/29/2010

"Sections" of the law will be challenged! It takes a woman! :-)

[BACK-to-REALITY]

10:04 AM on 06/01/2010

AND it will be upheld. There's nothing even close to being "unconstitutional" in the law. Sure, a judge or two will overturn parts based on nothing other than politics, but when it gets to the Supreme Court, it will be upheld. Illegal aliens have to go home; they've violated the law and don't belong here. Not too difficult to understand.

[UnaBohemia]

01:13 PM on 06/01/2010

Except you are not a judge. Your opinion is too emotional to consider the LAW.

[MsLiz]

05:54 PM on 06/18/2010

LOL! Anyone who thinks Constitutional law is easy to understand does not have a clue about the subject. I've read half of the statute, skimmed the rest. The courts will do what they do, and that's not predictable in this case. The part about cars stopping to pick up workers bothers me, because people giving folks a ride could be arrested.

[huffyanika]

02:26 AM on 05/29/2010

Good for Justice O'Connor for speaking out. -- Too bad she isn't still on the Court.

Being undocumented is a civil issue, as it turns out. It is worth a parking ticket if found out. But one of the most egregious aspects of this law is that it has turned 'undocumented' into a crime.

[BambooHarvester]

03:49 PM on 05/29/2010

bs ~ she gave us bush

[MsLiz]

05:55 PM on 06/18/2010

And that because she wanted to retire with a Republican president.

[sgammo]

03:55 AM on 05/30/2010

Used to be a federal issue but now a state issue as well, not a civil issue. A parking ticket is a whole hell of a lot less than deportation

[Francisco Nieto Salazar]

11:59 PM on 05/27/2010

Announcing the STARVE FOR AMERICA PATRIOT CHALLENGE!
If you are upset about illegal immigration and all the jobs taken by Mexicans and other immigrants, then take the challenge! Buy no produce, don't eat out at any restaurant! Don't eat meat packed by illegal hands! Hunger strike until all the illegals are out of the country and all those patriotic Americans are allowed back to the fields to pick lettuce and to prepare America's meals! Join us and starve for America!

[huffyanika]

02:27 AM on 05/29/2010

Good one!

[BACK-to-REALITY]

10:06 AM on 06/01/2010

Yeah, if only this were accurate. Every profession is made up of a majority-native-born staff. That's reality. And if our laws were actually upheld, the jobs WOULD get done, only employers would actually have to pay a decent wage to attract legal workers.

It's sad that you support this exploitation. But that's what we get when people oppose the rule of law. Enforce our immigration laws now.

[Esther in Phoenix]

05:58 PM on 05/29/2010

There are gonna be a lot of people starving...lol

[had-enough]

10:49 PM on 05/27/2010

After so much serious BS to make sense of: go to YOUTUBE Ray Stevens video "Come to America". Take a break for a smile! :-D These are rough times!

[labman57]

06:41 PM on 05/27/2010

In other words, Arizona has to LIE.

[BACK-to-REALITY]

10:07 AM on 06/01/2010

Uh, no. It's the open-border anarchists who are lying. Everyone from the U.S. Attorney General to Janet Napolitano called the bill "racist and unconstitutional" and then had to admit that they didn't even read the damn bill. Liars and losers they both are.

[Soter]

06:36 PM on 05/27/2010

"provide any of the following"...1. a valid drivers license....

"any"

[bdaved]

06:45 PM on 05/27/2010

Let's take a closer look at that: this is from SB1070:
A PERSON IS PRESUMED TO NOT BE AN ALIEN WHO IS UNLAWFULLY PRESENT IN THE UNITED STATES IF THE PERSON PROVIDES TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OR AGENCY ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:

1. A VALID ARIZONA DRIVER LICENSE. (soter, that doesn't say "1. a valid drivers license....")

2. A VALID ARIZONA NONOPERATING IDENTIFICATION LICENSE.

3. A VALID TRIBAL ENROLLMENT CARD OR OTHER FORM OF TRIBAL IDENTIFICATION.

4. IF THE ENTITY REQUIRES PROOF OF LEGAL PRESENCE IN THE UNITED STATES BEFORE ISSUANCE, ANY VALID UNITED STATES FEDERAL, STATE OR LOCAL GOVERNMENT ISSUED IDENTIFICATION. (soter, that doesn't say "a valid drivers license...." either)

[Soter]

06:52 PM on 05/27/2010

so the first paragraph use of 'any' is not valid? 'any' meaning any of the four, so a arizona permit would not satisfy the requirement , in your book?

[Soter]

06:57 PM on 05/27/2010

almost time to take off till tomorrow

[bdaved]

06:58 PM on 05/27/2010

Me too. I was afraid I was going to miss something. Have a good evening.

[Soter]

06:19 PM on 05/27/2010

water resources are almost all used up in the American southwest....say goodbye to Vegas and the national parks there while you can...

[bdaved]

06:21 PM on 05/27/2010

Who do you think bears the greatest responsibility for depletion of water resources here?

[Soter]

06:33 PM on 05/27/2010

human consumption in total, ......and there's litle left for any more humans to use, the fragile ecology for the southwest is about to go under...... new additions should be minimal and regulated

[Sepulchre]

08:00 PM on 05/27/2010

Not enough snow pack for the run off water they rely on as a primary source of water?

[MsLiz]

05:59 PM on 06/18/2010

Hello, Alabama! We are all wet!

[Soter]

06:15 PM on 05/27/2010

http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/03-1423.ZS.html

[bdaved]

06:17 PM on 05/27/2010

You're welcome.

[bdaved]

06:26 PM on 05/27/2010

Since you've only just learned that that's not "Muela v Mena", would it be safe to say that until now you haven't read the court case you've been citing so frequently?

[Soter]

06:34 PM on 05/27/2010

you assume too much...what exaclty was your argument ?

[Soter]

06:04 PM on 05/27/2010

every time I read about a gang fight, its 9 time out of ten latinos versus blacks..

..illegal immigrants hold 8 million jobs that ordinarily would be held by blacks.....blacks are getting hit real hard by the invaders

[bdaved]

06:07 PM on 05/27/2010

What are you trying to establish here?

[Soter]

06:18 PM on 05/27/2010

what r u trying to establish?

[sistahfriend]

06:25 PM on 05/27/2010

It seems you're suggesting something here.

Part of the reason that there is so much discourse among the Black and Brown community is because of statemeant like this and people like you. If the Black and Brown community truly understood how we helped one another in the pass and that it is the trick of the enemy to keep us seperated we both would be better.

Some white folks are afraid, because they know within a couple of decades they will be the minority. They are afraid, that the Brown community is becoming the force in America to deal with. But it's quite simple, if you treat people the way you want to be treated; and don't abuse or accuse then America would be a better place. Unfortunately, some are scared because of how they have treated people in the pass.

[Soter]

06:56 PM on 05/27/2010

no, latinos gobbled up 8 million black jobs

no, the brown people need to assimulate, it doe snot matter how many are here, they need to become americans and not enclave themselves

[TxMom]

12:58 AM on 05/30/2010

It is an absolute fact that whites will be a minority in our lifetime. Hispanics seem to be proud of this, but there is no denying educational statistics that overwhelmingly show that a Hispanic majority will drag America down.
Like it or not, influx of illegal immigrants is beginning to cause a "brain drain," mostly because of predominantly Catholic inspired oppression of women (Yes I can go there as a recovering Catholic), denial of reproductive freedom and off the charts teenaged pregnancy rates. It would behoove Hispanic leaders to stamp out Quinceanaras and promote College instead. Here in Texas our dropout rate is 1 in 3 thanks to these Hispanic cultural blocks to education.
The coming brain drain is NOT about race. It is about Mexican CULTURE, so please refrain from knee jerk accusations of racism. Let Korean or Chinese American parents adopt a Hispanic child and odds that kid will be valedictorian go up 1000%. It's about culturally inspired work ethic and emphasis on education, NOT race. Small wonder today's America is not looking forward to a Hispanic majority that will vote in more free stuff, resulting in confiscatory taxes. Even though both SS and Medicare are about to go belly up, Democrats just enacted another massive, open ended experimental entitlement called Health Care Reform.
We're about 5 years behind Greece in the Entitlement Time Bomb, and the already begun cultural brain drain due primarily to illegal immigration/lack of assimilation will just hasten the process.

[SusanMH]

06:03 PM on 05/27/2010

Sandra, a strong Republican , is simply trying to save the Republican party from itself. I am sure she wants the Republicans back in power and knows Arizona must prove they are not biased to retain the Hispanic Republicans and moderates in their flock.

When it came to voting party line on the supreme court Sandra towed the line. She also retired while Dubya was president to guarantee she was replaced by a conservative. She may have been more moderate then Scalia but she was definitley a conservative. How anyone could think she was not is a total mystery to me.

[TommyObama]

11:16 PM on 05/27/2010

She put W there with her vote to stop the recounting, so it only seems fair.

[huffyanika]

02:33 AM on 05/29/2010

Did she? Then I take back my comment, above, that she should still be on the Supreme Court.

[Soter]

05:59 PM on 05/27/2010

when an illegal aline here makes death threats to my family members , and you bozos here say directly or imply that my opposition to the illegal invasion is based on racism....geesh, they make death threats all the time.....if you cant blend in , if your very white, you go live about 20 miles from the border and see whats going on....their radio stations in the US are even named after their actions here "the invaders" (in espanol)

[JohnJacobJingleheimer]

06:54 PM on 05/27/2010

Agreed. But most illegal aliens are not threatening your family. It's the extrapolation of the problem to encompass everyone that is detrimental.

[BACK-to-REALITY]

10:15 AM on 06/01/2010

Illegal aliens are threatening everyone's family. It may not be intentional, but their presence lowers wages, drains natural resources, harms the rule of law, threatens sovereignty, forces your child to slow down in school to wait for non-English speaking classmates to catch up, overcrowds schools, results in sprawl, eliminates green spaces, adds traffic.... Do i have to go on?

[GinnyW]

04:20 PM on 06/01/2010

It would seem that you should be against SB1070 which orders law enforcement personnel to harrass cleaning ladies, orderlies in nursing homes, and lawn maintenance personnel instead of going after those people who are making death threats all the time against your family and the other CRIMINALS, not violaters of civil regulations. Since I receive social security and Medicare, I am in favor of immigration reform, so workers can have work permits (for whites for high paying jobs that's H-1B visas, which can be lapsed for many years without threat of deportation), so food production remains at very low cost and legal employers pay and deduct those taxes from low level workers which sustain our aging population in their entitlements! I also favor a path to college education and employment for those non-American children who performed no ILLEGAL act by allowing them to become citizens.

[Soter]

05:51 PM on 05/27/2010

one or two of you here really ticked me off with a blanket accusation of me being against all brown people...that is absurd. I dont care who you are, you can come here but you gotta do it lawfully and you gotta assimulate and become americanized, at least to a certain degree.....Ive seen these laino (illegal) immigrant people at rallies speak and make fun of america and shout about how they will take over, and how they hate gringo, ....and how american citizens cant even wear american flags in their own country, how illegals make up a high percent of all drunk driving etc......im sick of it

[bdaved]

06:00 PM on 05/27/2010

Soter, you've got to be careful about not letting people get to you like that. I don't agree with you on this issue, but I want you to be able to make your case as strongly as you can. It can make me have to either make my own case stronger, or see things in a different light. Don't let people weaken you like that.

[Soter]

06:05 PM on 05/27/2010

no, someone went way outa line

[Go Og]

05:23 PM on 05/27/2010

loser!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111