Invited Commentary

Public Health Consequences of State Immigration Laws: A Commentary

Authors: Carl S. Hacker, PhD, JD

Abstract

Drs Aponte-Rivera and Dunlop note that Arizona and Georgia have passed statutes that will place severe restraints on undocumented aliens.1 They note that 36 other state have similar legislation under consideration. The United States filed a complaint in a U.S. district court challenging the constitutionality of the Arizona statute and requesting that Arizona be enjoined from enforcing the law. The judge has rendered an opinion enjoining parts and denying the government's motion on other parts.2 The Georgia statute has been challenged by several parties for declaratory and injunctive relief and an opinion has not been rendered.3

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References

1. Aponte-Rivera V, Boadie W. Public health consequences of state immigration laws. South Med J2011;104:718-719.
 
2. United States of America v State of Arizona, et al. Available at:http://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/pdf/national/20100729_ARIZONA_DOC.pdf. Accessed September 26, 2011.
 
3. Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights et al v Nathan Deal, Governor of the State of Georgia, et al. Available at: http://www.ncsl.org/documents/statefed/GeorgiaLawsuit.pdf. Accessed September 26, 2011.
 
4. Quill BE, Aday LA, Hacker CS, et al. Policy incongruence and public health professionals dissonance: the case of immigrants and welfare policy. J Immigr Health 1999;1:9-18.
 
5. Jacobson v Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 197 US 11 (1905).
 
6. US Constitution Art I, Sec 8, Para 4.
 
7. New State Ice Co v Liebmann, 285 US 262 (1932).