National Council Of La Raza

 WASHINGTON - Calling it an "unequivocal victory for Latinos and an important first step to repealing SB 1070," Janet Murguía, President and CEO of NCLR (National Council of La Raza), applauded the decision to block sections of Arizona's controversial immigration law from taking effect.  U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton ruled that the law will still take effect today but will not include sections that would have required officers to verify a person's immigration status and compelled immigrants to carry their documents at all times.

"Not only did the judge side with the Latino community, she sided with the Constitution.  This is an unequivocal victory.  The ruling enjoins the crux of the law that would have legitimized racial profiling," said Murguía. 

"But the work is not done.  We know that the injunction is temporary and likely to be appealed and that the suspended sections can still be reinstated.  The Arizona legislature has also signaled that it will move forward with even more draconian measures, and other states are still considering similar legislation," added Murguía.

NCLR, the largest national Latino civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States, is among leading civil rights, labor, and faith organizations that have organized to boycott Arizona.  The boycott and a call to Major League Baseball (MLB) Commissioner Bud Selig to move the 2011 MLB All-Star Game from Arizona will remain in effect until the law is permanently repealed, overturned by the courts, or superseded by federal comprehensive immigration reform legislation.

"We cannot focus on false solutions.  Today's ruling makes clear that the power to pass effective comprehensive immigration reform lies with the president and Congress.  If the two senators from Arizona would step up, then we could deliver the solution that Arizona and the nation need," Murguía continued.  "The effects of this law have already spread to other states that believe they can tackle the problem, but solutions must be made at the federal level, and Washington needs to act."