Congressman Disappointed That "Show Your Papers" Provision Is Upheld

New York, NY - Congressman Charles Rangel issued the following statement on the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling of the Arizona immigration law SB 1070 announced on Monday June 25, 2012:

"Today the United States Supreme Court acted in accordance with the values of the American people, striking down the main provisions of Arizona’s controversial SB 1070 bill, which was signed into law by a Republican Governor in April 2010. The ruling defeated Arizona Republicans' discriminatory attempt to require that all immigrants carry identification papers, make it a crime for illegal immigrants to seek or attain employment, and allow state police officers to arrest individuals they suspect of being illegal immigrants without obtaining a warrant first. This law would have ruined the dignity of people who do not deserve to be profiled based on racial profiling, prejudice and alienation.

I am certainly proud of the Supreme Court’s rejection of most of the legislation’s most wrongheaded policies that would have pushed families, workers, and senior citizens into the criminal justice system.  But the Court made a grave error in upholding the discriminatory “show me your papers” provision that violates people’s basic rights. However, I hope that in stating that additional review is needed, the Supreme Court will eventually make the right decision as they look into this blatantly biased stipulation of an already unpopular bill that promises to promote public unrest within Arizona and the Latino community as a whole.

In suing the state of Arizona over its enactment of SB 1070, President Barack Obama, Attorney General Eric Holder and the U.S. Justice Department displayed their willingness to fight for justice. Their effort was made with a great level of determination and diligence and I remain supportive of their agenda to grant equality to all Americans.

Any law that encourages discrimination against any person of color and other immigrants—including those who have been American citizens all their lives—violates the spirit of our nation's founding, and the basic rights of human beings. I marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  because I believe in equality and justice for all. I will continue to fight for people of color, immigrant rights and against all efforts to weaken the Latino community."