Arizona’s Attorney General is vowing to appeal a decision by the Ninth Circuit Court on Tuesday which found that Arizona cannot enforce a provision of SB1070; Arizona’s illegal immigration law.
The Court found that the provision directed at those who knowingly transport or harbor people in the country illegally was poorly crafted. Richard Paez described the wording as “unintelligible.”
The decision affirmed a lower court ruling which bars Arizona from enforcing the law as it winds its way through the courts.
Attorney General Tom Horne said Arizona had to enact the law because the federal government was not enforcing federal immigration laws. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the provision of the law that requires law-enforcement officials to check the immigration status of people they stop who the officials think may be in the country illegally.
Tuesday’s decision was made by a three judge panel. Now the State may ask the Ninth Circuit for a review by a larger panel, or appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.