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Editorial: Immigration Ruling

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By Collin R. Gaston - bio | email

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MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) -

The Supreme Court on Monday rejected much of Arizona's controversial immigration law, but upheld other provisions, delivering a split decision to the Obama administration.  So if you are keeping score and trying to figure out who the winner is-stay tuned- we've just reached halftime on this issue.

Monday's ruling continues to spotlight no matter what the decision might be in the courts there will be two sides voicing strong opinions describing how they are gaining ground on this issue.

 If you ask the Governor, House Speaker or the Senate President Pro Tem – Monday's ruling delivered a day of "victory," "validation" and "affirmation."  On the other hand if you asked the legal director of the Southern Poverty Law Center the decision was "A blow to Arizona's anti-immigrant law and similar copycat laws that have sprung up in other states."   

Instead of continuing the focus on Alabama being a state divided on this topic I think it's worthwhile to point out that there is some consensus mixed in with all this disagreement.  We believe the vast majority of Alabamians could agree that in order to live, work and go to school in Alabama you need to do so legally.  In the same breath – in order to enforce this law we also believe the majority of Alabamians would agree that it should be done without violating an individuals civil rights.  And if we are being honest with ourselves-hindsight being 20/20-we feel the powers that be would have done things differently initially if they had the chance to do it all over again.

So let use Monday's ruling in Arizona as an opportunity to take a hard and deliberative look at Alabama's current immigration law and have the courage and humility to make any change necessary to do the right thing for Alabama, our country and those that want to be a part of it.

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