Posted on 10/07/2010 6:55:26 AM PDT by WebFocus
Maybe I’m mellowing with age but this strikes me as less unreal now than it did a few months ago. A question for the lawyers in the audience: There’s nothing unusual about foreign nations chipping in with amicus briefs on U.S. legal matters, is there? In two minutes of googling, I found this Supreme Court amicus submitted by the European Union in a death penalty case arguing that international consensus opposes executing criminals under 18. Their stake in that matter is surely less than Mexico’s et al. in how Arizona treats its citizens who are here illegally, no?
What’s really unreal is that the governments who submitted briefs thought it was a good idea to do so. Whatever marginal legal benefit an amicus filing will bring is surely outweighed by the hugely damaging PR from the perception that they’re meddling in U.S. immigration matters, no? And given how expertly Brewer’s been using this issue for political gain over the past eight months, it was a no-brainer that she’d end up rubbing their faces in it.
The move comes in response to a 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling issued Monday, allowing nearly a dozen Latin American countries — Mexico, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru and Chile — to submit friend-of-the-court briefs in Justice’s challenge to SB 1070, which Brewer signed into law in April and is considered one of the nation’s toughest immigration-enforcement measures.
“As do many citizens, I find it incredibly offensive that these foreign governments are using our court system to meddle in a domestic legal dispute and to oppose the rule of law,” the Republican governor said in a statement shortly after the state’s motion was filed Tuesday evening.
“What’s even more offensive is that this effort has been supported by the U.S. Department of Justice. American sovereignty begins in the U.S. Constitution and at the border,” she added. “I am confident the 9th Circuit will do the right thing and recognize foreign interference in U.S. legal proceedings and allow the State of Arizona to respond to their brief.”
Politico notes that this argument should resonate with conservatives, who worry about U.S. courts applying foreign law to decide cases. Normally that’d be true, but not this time: If the feds want to start following the Mexican government’s lead on how to enforce immigration law, most righties will find that an intriguing possibility.
Latest Rasmussen poll, by the way: Brewer 55, Goddard 39. After this, figure she hits 60 next week?
Sure sure. Happens every day. Just like when Saudi Arabia and Iran submitted briefs on gay marriage.
You have found the pony in the pile of manure. Foreign governments are wise and their opinions are welcome when they support the leftist agenda. Otherwise, not so much. The key is to cherry-pick carefully.
I am almost speechless with rage over the 9th Circuit Court allowing foreign countries to file briefs in the Arizona immigration case. But I am almost as angry at the sound of silence coming from our GOP leadership. Where are these stalwart champions of the Constitution? Hiding under their desks as usual. Waiting to see how the wind is blowing.
..since the second largest money maker in Mexico is cash from the US, oil is first, what do you expect.
Why?
Because the well entrenched global government of these blokes . . .
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2475963/posts?page=60#60
is eager to shoe-horn it’s way more overtly onto the world stage.
Why are the citizens of these foreign nations coming here illegally? Because they can’t find opportunity at home? Why is that? And why is the United States obligated to support these people?
From http://www.icmc.net/article/agencies-join-historic-call-over-global-migrant-abuse
...Concern has also grown about the treatment of migrants crossing Africa in some African countries, as well as for Latin American migrants trying to enter the United States through Mexico.
Asked about Arizona’s new immigration law, which allows local police to question and detain anyone they believe may be an illegal entrant, Pillay said it was “topical.”
“The stopping and searching of individuals we have said is discriminatory and can lead to prejudices and xenophobia,” she added.
The UN Human Rights Council on Thursday adopted a resolution brought by Latin American countries calling for more respect for migrants’ rights and expressing concern at the growing flow of migrants travelling without identity documents.
The resolution was accepted by a consensus of the 47 member states.
“It’s well known that restrictive migration policies do not prevent illegal immigration but have led to greater vulnerability for irregular migrants, who are increasingly threatened by transnational criminal gangs,” Mexico’s ambassador Juan Jose Gomez Camacho said.
The resolution also called on the international community, especially destination countries, to ratify the 2003 International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers.
The UN treaty, which advocates equal treatment for migrant workers and their families in host countries, has not been signed by any major Western country so far.
**********
Please note that last line. Any standing the Cartagena group has is based on their own hot air.
Fight on, Arizona.
What I don’t get is why Arizona did not take the matter straight to the Supreme Court. Article III Section 2 give SCOTUS original jurisdiction in any case to which a state may be party.
Mexico’s economy is practically booming thanks to NAFTA.
And with our economy reeling for the last few years the economic gap that seperated Mexico from Canada and US has been narrowed.
Thus making the implementation of the NAU more equitable for all principal participants.
Just a guarentee that when it gets to SCOTUS they’ll have additional grounds to toss any ruling against Arizona by the 9th Circus’.
“irregular migrants”
Hadn’t heard that one before.
New one to me, too.
Intestinally challenged invaders seeking some of that good obamacare?
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