The U.S. Supreme Court moved on Monday to insert itself in another politically explosive case in the 2012 election year, agreeing to hear arguments over whether states can pass laws to crack down on illegal immigrants within their borders.
"This case is not just about Arizona," said Gov. Jan Brewer. "It’s about every state grappling with the costs of illegal immigration. And it’s about the fundamental principle of federalism, under which these states have a right to defend their people."
And it's also about a hot button political matter which could be stirred like a hornet's nest in the midst of the 2012 Presidential election.
But think about it - the Supreme Court's current term also something even more polarizing, that being the arguments over the constitutionality of the Obama health law.
Along with those two cases, the Supreme Court last week quietly accepted a redistricting case from Texas, which could change the way that Congressional lines are drawn for minority majority districts.
Any dispute involving the 1965 Voting Rights Act may sound sort of esoteric and wonkish, but trust me - this is a big deal.
And adding illegal immigration to the High Court's docket is almost like pouring more political lighter fuel on the barbeque out back of the Supreme Court.
Obama health law. Illegal immigration. Congressional gerrymandering. You could get some landmark rulings in the midst of an election year for both the Congress and the White House.
The Texas redistricting case is going to be argued on January 9, the day before the New Hampshire Primary; the Court has not set the argument dates for the Obama health law or the Arizona immigration law.
As for the Arizona immigration law, there are four provisions of that law which were blocked by lower courts:
- Local police have to check immigration status
- Police would also be allowed to make a warrantless arrest if they believe the person may have committed an offense that could lead to deportation
- Immigrants have to carry legal ID papers
- One provision blocks illegals from working in Arizona Some were already talking about the Obama health arguments being the most political case since Bush v Gore. Throw in illegal immigration. And a dose of Congressional redistricting related to minority districts. The Supreme Court is going to be a hot place in 2012 in terms of politics.
