Wall Street Journal (06/25/12) Jess Bravin; Tamara Audi

In its ruling on Arizona’s immigration law, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down provisions that make it a state crime for immigrants not to carry federal registration papers, allow jail time for illegal immigrants looking for employment in the state, and broaden the power of state and local police to arrest immigrants for suspected offenses. The court let stand a requirement that police check the immigration status of people they stop for traffic or other violations, but the provision could face legal challenges down the road if immigrants are held in detention for prolonged periods while their status is determined. It remains unclear how federal courts will apply the ruling to the immigration laws passed in Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina.