Pelavin: "Above all, Judge Bolton's decision again makes clear the urgent need for Congress to address comprehensive immigration reform."
Contact: Eric Harris or Juliana Schnur
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WASHINGTON, D.C., July 28, 2010 -- In response to U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton's decision to block the most troubling sections of Arizona's recent immigration law S.B. 1070, Mark Pelavin, Associate Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, issued the following statement:
We welcome today's decision by Judge Susan Bolton blocking the most troubling provisions of the recently-passed Arizona immigration law. The law as enacted invites racial and ethnic discrimination and threatens the rights of American citizens and legal residents. Judge Bolton's decision rightly notes that enforcement of immigration laws is the province of the federal government.
Although we are pleased that the most egregious elements of SB 1070 will not be enforced when the law goes into effect tomorrow, the significant shortcomings of our current immigration system remain. Above all, Judge Bolton's decision again makes clear the urgent need for Congress to address comprehensive immigration reform. We will continue to work with our partners in the faith and immigrant communities to achieve sensible and humane reforms that ensure our nation's security, meet our economy's needs, and respect the dignity of all people.
