Texans React to Immigration Ruling
The decision doesn't directly affect any Texas laws, but it will influence next year's legislative debate. Photo courtesy flickr.com/polytikus/Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling striking down much of Arizona’s immigration law drew quick reaction from lawmakers and immigration advocates in Texas.
Republican lawmakers in Texas mirrored much of the national conservative reaction. Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst said the decision spotlighted what he called an “abject failure” of the federal government to secure the U.S. border. And Gov. Rick Perry said Arizona only passed the law to try to do what the federal government hasn’t been willing to do.
Immigration advocacy groups were pleased with the ruling. Jim Harrington, director of the Texas Civil Rights Project in Austin, says the ruling doesn’t directly affect any Texas laws, but it could stop attempts to pass similar measures here.
“The court was very clear today that this is something that’s pre-empted by federal law,” Harrington said. “And has the effect of relegating all that to the federal government to decide and not the states.”
State Rep. Debbie Riddle, R-Tomball, led efforts to pass a law similar to Arizona’s in Texas last year. Riddle says she’s reviewing the ruling to determine what kind of legislation she’ll file in the 2013 session.
Podcast: Download (1.4MB)
