The U.S. Conference of Mayors Reacts to Supreme Court's Arizona Immigration Decision

Statement by Conference President Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter on  'Papers Please' Provision

WASHINGTON, June 25, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- U.S. Conference of Mayors President Philadelphia (PA) Michael A. Nutter today released the following statement in reaction to the Supreme Court's Arizona v. United States decision:

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"Today's Supreme Court decision in Arizona v. United States provides yet another reason why Congress should quickly pass comprehensive immigration reform. It demonstrates that we cannot fix our broken immigration system on a state-by-state basis. 

"The U.S. Conference of Mayors is pleased that the Court struck down three troubling provisions in the Arizona law.  We are concerned, however, that the Supreme Court upheld the so-called 'papers please' provision, which will have far-reaching consequences for cities.  It will compromise the ability of our local police departments to maintain public safety and jeopardize the relationship, which they have carefully built with immigrant communities.  It will require police officers to spend more time and resources investigating immigration status, leaving them less time and fewer resources to investigate serious crimes.  The challenge for mayors and their police departments is to minimize harm and assure immigrant communities that they will not engage in racial or ethnic profiling.

"In its decision the Court opened the door on a future challenge to this provision after it takes effect, and we hope that will occur with all due speed." 

The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are 1,309 such cities in the country today, and each city is represented in the Conference by its chief elected official, the mayor. Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/usmayors, or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/usmayors.

SOURCE The U.S. Conference of Mayors