Press Release - The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
Civil and Human Rights Coalition Praises Court Decision Blocking Provisions of South Carolina Anti-Immigration Law
For Immediate Release
Contact: Scott Westbrook Simpson, 202.466.2061, simpson@civilrights.org
December 22, 2011
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Wade Henderson, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued the following statement following a U.S. District Court decision to block provisions of South Carolina’s anti-immigration law, S.B. 20:
"We applaud today's ruling by Judge Gergel blocking the most troubling provisions of South Carolina’s immigration law from taking effect. While the ruling focuses primarily on the fact that the South Carolina law interferes with federal immigration laws, the bottom line is that the South Carolina law is simply bad policy. Permitting this law to go forward would have opened the door to a drastic increase in racial and ethnic profiling, singling out minorities based simply on how they look or speak. It also would have wasted valuable law enforcement resources while driving a wedge between the police and the communities they work to protect. We commend the civil rights groups and the Department of Justice, which challenged the law in court, and the South Carolina Immigration Coalition, which has worked tirelessly to raise awareness about the dangers of legislation that undermines our values as Americans.
Today’s decision joins those made in other federal courts striking down major parts of anti-immigration laws in Arizona and Georgia. In Alabama, where a federal judge let troubling parts of that state’s anti-immigration law stand, state leaders are beginning to rethink the law after suffering an economic and social backlash as immigrant workers flee the state.
Collectively, these rulings reinforce the need for Congress to act expeditiously to consider and enact comprehensive immigration reform that promotes fairness and justice for every person living in our country, including those undocumented immigrants that are already contributing to our economy and our communities. Now is the time for action."
Wade Henderson is the president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 200 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its 200-plus member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.
