{"id":1946,"date":"2012-01-04T14:24:22","date_gmt":"2012-01-04T19:24:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/faithandjustice\/?p=1946"},"modified":"2012-01-04T14:24:22","modified_gmt":"2012-01-04T19:24:22","slug":"jay-sekulow-defending-alabamas-immigration-law","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/2012\/01\/jay-sekulow-defending-alabamas-immigration-law.html","title":{"rendered":"Jay Sekulow: Defending Alabama’s Immigration Law"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>With the Supreme Court poised to act on Arizona’s law targeting illegal immigrants in the coming months, a new legal challenge regarding illegal immigration is winding its way through the federal court system – this time it’s Alabama’s measure under fire from the Obama Administration.<\/p>\n

Alabama’s measure, HB 56, is now before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit<\/a>.<\/p>\n

We have just filed\u00a0an important amicus brief<\/a>\u00a0backing the Alabama measure – a brief that urges the appeals court to uphold the measure which we contend “mirrors federal immigration provisions.” At the same time, our brief warns that if the Obama Administration challenge to the Alabama law succeeds, states will be effectively rendered “powerless over unchecked illegal immigration and the associated social and economic costs that their citizens must bear.”<\/p>\n

The Alabama appeal comes as the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to hear oral arguments this spring<\/a> in a legal challenge by the Obama Administration attacking the Arizona immigration measure, SB 1070. As you may recall, we’ve been deeply involved in that litigation – backing Arizona’s measure with an amicus brief<\/a> that urged the high court to take the case on behalf of 59 members of Congress and some 60,000 Americans.<\/p>\n

In our filing<\/a>\u00a0at the 11th Circuit, our arguments in support of the Alabama law are very similar to what we have argued in the Arizona case:<\/p>\n

“This case reveals a clash between the Administration and Congressionally enacted laws over the states\u2019 role in immigration law enforcement. For the past quarter century, Congress has welcomed, and in fact highly depends on, state and local assistance in enforcing federal immigration laws. National immigration policy, as codified in Congressional Acts, provides for concurrent federal\/state authority to enforce federal immigration laws. Many states across the country are enacting laws like Alabama\u2019s HB 56. In keeping with Congress\u2019s intent, most of these state laws, including HB 56, mirror federal immigration provisions and incorporate federal standards. State efforts to promote national policy as embodied in federal statutes should be upheld provided they hew closely to federal standards. Because the provisions of HB 56 track federal standards, HB 56 promotes Congressional immigration policy and is not preempted.”<\/p>\n

“The Administration\u2019s attack on HB 56 undermines federalist and separation of powers principles by permitting the Administration\u2019s policy preferences to trump Congress\u2019s statutory acknowledgement that states have inherent authority to enforce laws that profoundly affect their citizens\u2019 welfare. A decision sustaining the Administration\u2019s claims will effectively leave the states powerless over unchecked illegal immigration and the associated social and economic costs that their citizens must bear.”<\/p>\n

The issue of immigration is fast becoming one of the top issues for the American people. And this latest case underscores the growing clash between the federal government and the rights of states.<\/p>\n

The fact is Alabama is only doing what a growing number of states are doing: taking action after the Obama Administration has failed to do so. Taking action in a manner does not impede federal law. And, as with the Alabama measure, taking action that is actually consistent with federal immigration policy that promotes increasingly greater roles for states in enforcing immigration law.<\/p>\n

Jay Sekulow<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

With the Supreme Court poised to act on Arizona’s law targeting illegal immigrants in the coming months, a new legal challenge regarding illegal immigration is winding its way through the federal court system – this time it’s Alabama’s measure under fire from the Obama Administration. Alabama’s measure, HB 56, is now before the U.S. Court…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":401,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[82,66],"tags":[282,743,89,88,770,442,791,773,331],"class_list":["post-1946","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-immigration","category-u-s-constitution","tag-11th-circuit-court-of-appeals","tag-aclj","tag-alabama","tag-amicus-brief","tag-arizona","tag-illegal-immigration","tag-jay-sekulow","tag-obama-administration","tag-u-s-supreme-court"],"yoast_head":"\nJay Sekulow: Defending Alabama's Immigration Law - Faith & Justice<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/2012\/01\/jay-sekulow-defending-alabamas-immigration-law.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Jay Sekulow: Defending Alabama's Immigration Law - Faith & Justice\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"With the Supreme Court poised to act on Arizona’s law targeting illegal immigrants in the coming months, a new legal challenge regarding illegal immigration is winding its way through the federal court system – this time it’s Alabama’s measure under fire from the Obama Administration. 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He is also Chief Counsel of the European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ). Jay Sekulow is one of the leading defenders of constitutional rights and religious liberties in the United States. Over the past 25 years, Jay Sekulow has amassed an unparalleled record of accomplishment, arguing before the U.S. Supreme Court on 12 occasions. His aggressive litigation strategy before the Supreme Court has led to many landmark First Amendment victories. In his first case before the Supreme Court, Jews for Jesus, Jay Sekulow secured the right of religious groups to pass out tracks in airports. In Mergens, Jay Sekulow successfully protected the right of students to form Bible clubs and prayer groups on public school campuses. In Lamb\u2019s Chapel, Jay Sekulow cleared the way for churches to have equal access to public facilities in the same way that other groups are permitted to utilize those facilities. In the Bray and Operation Rescue cases, Jay Sekulow protected the free speech rights of pro-life advocates to be free from criminal prosecution for conveying their pro-life message. In McConnell v. FEC, Jay Sekulow protected the right of young people to engage in the political process by donating to the campaign of their choice. In Pleasant Grove, Jay Sekulow paved the way for governments to be able to display Ten Commandments monuments, and other monuments of their choosing, in public parks. Through the ACLJ, Jay Sekulow engages the political, legal, and cultural battles facing America today. He routinely works with Members of Congress, advising them on proposed legislation and representing them in critical legal matters. Jay Sekulow has also testified before Congress on the constitutionality of proposed legislation. Also, in addition to being a successful Supreme Court advocate, Jay Sekulow is a highly respected broadcaster. Jay Sekulow is the host of Jay Sekulow Live! which airs each weekday on over 850 radio stations nationwide, in addition Sirius and XM satellite radio. He brings insight and education to listeners daily through this national call-in radio program. He is also the host of the ACLJ This Week, the ACLJ\u2019s weekly television program. Jay Sekulow regularly appears on major media outlets, including FOX News, CNN, ABC, CBS, and NBC, where he is sought out for his vast experience in constitutional law and his unique insight into many of the pressing legal and political issues facing America today. He is frequently quoted in the nation's leading newspapers and often contributes opinion editorials to national publications. Jay Sekulow has also published numerous law review and other scholarly articles. Jay Sekulow has received numerous honors for his groundbreaking legal work in the area of free speech and religious liberties. The Legal Times has named Sekulow one of \u201cThe 90 Greatest Washington Lawyers of the Last 30 Years\u201d and the National Law Journal has twice named Sekulow one of the \u201c100 Most Influential Lawyers\u201d in the United States. In addition, TIME Magazine listed Jay Sekulow as one of the \"25 Most Influential Evangelicals\" in America. Jay Sekulow\u2019s legal work in defense of religious liberties and human rights extends beyond the United States, having founded the ECLJ in Strasbourg, France, which maintains consultative status with the United Nations. He has also opened offices in Pakistan, Africa, and Jerusalem, Israel. Jay Sekulow is a staunch defender of Israel, presenting arguments before the International Criminal Court at the Hague. His efforts in support of Israel\u2019s right to defend itself from terrorist attacks have been commended by Israeli government officials, one official stating, \"Jay was instrumentally-involved in projects that the President of Israel and the Prime Minister put on our national agenda.\" Jay Sekulow also has a passion for educating the next generation of religious liberty advocates. He is a member of the Regent University Law School Faculty as a Distinguished Professor of Law and routinely teaches courses on constitutional law and presents guest lectures. Jay Sekulow has also started educational programs in international human rights law in Strasbourg, France and at Handong University in South Korea. Jay Sekulow is a graduate of Mercer University, earning both a bachelor\u2019s degree and doctor of jurisprudence. Sekulow served on the editorial staff of the Mercer Law Review and graduated cum laude. He later earned a Ph.D. from Regent University, writing his dissertation on American Legal History. Jay Sekulow also serves on the Board of Trustees for The Supreme Court Historical Society in Washington, D.C. Jay Sekulow, ACLJ Chief Counsels full biography and video. Jay Sekulow on Facebook. Jay Sekulow on Twitter. Jay Sekulow on YouTube.","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/author\/jay_sekulow"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1946","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/401"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1946"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1946\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1968,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1946\/revisions\/1968"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1946"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1946"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/faithandjustice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1946"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}