The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld Arizona’s immigration law that severely penalizes businesses when knowingly hiring illegal immigrants.
In the ruling that’s likely to embolden Congress and other states, the court declared that Arizona’s law fits comfortably within the state’s powers.
The anticipated decision keeps intact the 2007 Legal Arizona Workers Act. Employers could have their business licenses suspended or revoked for hiring illegal immigrants, under the law. The ruling will make it easier for states to pass similar laws, even though immigration is traditionally a federal responsibility.The law requires Arizona employers to use a federal program called E-Verify to check the immigration status of potential workers.