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What SCOTUS Ruling Means For Arizona Police And Immigrants

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So what happens on the day after the Supreme Court ruling on Arizona's immigration law? The high court upheld the provision in Arizona's SB 1070 law requiring police to ask about a person's immigration status if they had "reasonable suspicion" in the course of their police work.

But the White House yesterday reminded federal agents in Arizona that the administration is committed to only deporting undocumented immigrants who commit dangerous crimes or are repeat offenders.

Will this mean police will spend hours contacting federal authorities only to be told to release suspects? How long do police wait to get an answer? Will it be like a traffic stop, when you wait for your license to be run through a computer?

Meanwhile, the Arizona law is still on hold until the 9th Circuit Court officially lifts the injunction that it placed on it, pending the supreme court decision.

Guest:

  • Sergeant Tommy Thompson of the Phoenix Police Department
  • Alessandra Soler, executive director of the ACLU in Arizona

This segment aired on June 26, 2012.

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