What Does the Ariz. Immigration Verdict Mean?

(CBS)  The judge didn't strike down the entire law. So what does it mean?

U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton struck down every section the Obama administration cared about: a complete victory says CBS News chief legal correspondent Jan Crawford.

She has ruled that the power to regulate immigration lies exclusively with the federal government, and that the Arizona law will burden legal aliens and U.S. citizens.

Crawford: Ariz. Ruling Accepts Admin's Main Arguments
Read Judge Bolton's Decision
Arizona Immigration Decision: Early Reaction
Ruling Accepts Administration's Main Arguments

She said she recognized Arizona had significant interests in confronting illegal immigration and problems with crime but Arizona still couldn't step into the federal government's role.

The judge also cautioned that the Arizona law would increase the "intrusion of police presence into the lives of legally-present aliens, and even United States citizens."

So this now puts the pressure on the federal government -- and the White House -- to take responsibility and do something to fix immigration.

But the fight in the states isn't over.

Twenty states are now considering similar laws…and this is just one judge's ruling.

In one state.

It doesn't bind Texas or New Jersey or any other state, although it will put at damper on those efforts.

And at some point we're going to get a final answer.

This will be appealed, probably up to the Supreme Court.

Politically, what does this mean?

This is the best news the Obama administration has gotten in a long time and there's huge relief in the Justice department. The ruling was a slam dunk.

And now Arizona has to appeal since the administration isn't going to drag Arizona into the federal appeals courts.

Some groups on the right are furious about the ruling and they say they will keep the heat on illegal immigration.

But this is a difficult political issue because Republicans risk alienating a key voting bloc.

[desertdiva2u]

This is a corrupt liberal Clinton appointee who struck down SB1070. What she did was put the rights of illegals above our own citizens. While we voters aren't expected to be smart enough to figure out that it's Obama's payback for pandering to the hispanic voting block. Obama has literally committed treason against his own people. He sold out his own people to foreigners in exchange for favors. Arizona and American citizens will not forget this act on election day.

[parrhesiaJoe]

There is a civil war in Mexico whose main contributor is our drug war. Fix immigration by ceasing to screw up their country with black markets, which ALWAYS destroy the supplying country. It doesn't matter whether you make sugar or heroine illegal. If the people still demand it, there will be bloodshed.

Plus, there is the little fact that our drug war is an EPIC FAIL. More people smoke pot here than in Amsterdam or Portugal... both places... LEGAL.

[thenanna3]

I am very concerned about the state of our Country. We are so concerned about illegal aliens, that we have lost sight about us Americans. What exactly are Americans getting out of anything now days?? Nothing from my vantage point! I continue to see how My Country keeps protecting illegal aliens from getting sent back home. And how there children are taking away from my Grandchildren. They have illegally come here to get a better life but they are doing it in a way that is taking from Americans. The People who they want to be like. And at the same time while they are taking over our jobs, schools, housing, government, and language. What will we have left when they are done?? The American Dream that they are wanting they are changing to suit there needs and we are letting them get away with it. And so is our Government! You can't even call our President without being asked if you want English or Spanish! Is this all right?? I am asking you the best way of I know of to do the right thing and help our Country. Somehow we need to do something!!! It has to stop, we need to put our foot down and say enough is enough. I am tired of hearing how we are doing the Mexicans wrong by stopping them from coming to our Country illegally. What happen to the USA, the right to be free, to live free?? We are having to adjust our lives to theirs, WHY?? When and if we go there land THEY don't change for us, and neither does any other country. So WHY are WE required to CHANGE for THEM??

[tsigili]

What it means, is that we have a dictatorship in Washington.

[ricscore]

Unbelievable. How is it possible a so call American judge blocks the law of the land, allowing criminals to run free? Obama began the slow deterioration of this country; the justices system is accelerating it. How do these people think they are improving life for their children? The real answer is not stopping the illegals, but makes Mexico the 51st state. Then they would be legally entitled to suck the life out of their American. These illegals add no value to their country, (Mexico), why do we think they will add value to our country? Unbelievable, American wake up.

[7colorado]

You are totally wrong about the value of immigrants. You are most likely a descendant of immigrants. The exaggerated "the sky is falling claims" like yours are totally and utterly ridiculous. The United States can easily absorb the illegal immigrants we have here now. In fact we already have. We do need immigration control that is constitutional. Why is conservatives claim that liberals are eroding the constitution when in fact it's laws like this are obviously unconstitutional. Do really want to live in a police state? We are more than halfway there already. You really need to calm down your overblown rhetoric, it's beginning to remind me that our republic is already overdue to collapse due to gay marriage. Ha! America is going to be just fine, it's irrational people like you I'm worried about. Let me ask you, what were you blowing a gasket about 10 years ago? Monica Lewinsky?

[abbe91]

The problem of illegal immigration is not the illegal immigrants. It's all the people who profit from illegal immigration, and at the end of the chain, the people who hire them. It's the responsability of a company to check that the workers they hire is here legally. I wonder if the GOP is ready to accept big fines for companies who don't.

[thy-only_king]

What Does the Ariz. Immigration Verdict Mean?

It means Obama and the rest of his regime will be voted out of office in 2010 & 2012.

[ricscore]

Amen

[thy-only_king]

What Does the Ariz. Immigration Verdict Mean?

It means America is under attack.

[larrryshrine]

by rand1417 July 28, 2010 10:37 PM EDT
Let me first say... Don't blame me, I didn't vote for the guy. Now, with that said, this current president is no friend of the American people. He consistently acts in ways that make me believe he will be recorded in history as a key player in the downfall/revolution that is sure to follow at some point in the American history yet to unfold. I fear for the future that the current administration as tailoring for our children. I am a patriot, still tear at the sound of our national anthem, of late those tears are of fear rather than pride.
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As a liberal, I disagree with you. However, I respect your thoughtful and articulate position. I do wish there were more like you who seem to believe in the American concept of civil discourse without resorting to yelling and name calling. Thank you. And I consider myself a patriot as well.

[larrryshrine]

by magnumdr July 28, 2010 9:24 PM EDT
The blocking of the immigration law by our President means that he should be Impeached for not protecting the citizens of the USA. He instead helpd those that are here illegally by nor honoring our Constitution and it's laws. That is enough for the Impeachment of this President that says it is ok for illegals here to break our Basic laws!
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Please let it be noted that the president did not block the law; the federal government filed suit, as it has every right to do under the Constitution, and the law was in large part blocked by a federal judge, who by many accounts is fair and impartial, and was recommended for her post in 2000 by Republican Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona. The Congress at the time was controlled by Republicans.