Arizona courts uphold racial profiling oversight and immigration law

A federal judge has denied Maricopa County’s request to end court-ordered oversight aimed at eliminating racial profiling within its sheriff’s office. U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow ruled that the department has not demonstrated it has achieved the objectives of decade-old orders originally issued following findings of systemic racial bias against Latino drivers. While the office has phased out previous policies, reports indicate compliance with permanent injunctions has fluctuated between 68% and 84%, falling short of the required 94% threshold.

Separately, the Arizona Court of Appeals has upheld Proposition 314, a voter-approved immigration measure. The law allows police to arrest individuals who cross the border at locations other than official ports of entry and charge them with state crimes. The group Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA) challenged the measure, arguing it could lead to discriminatory enforcement. However, the court rejected the challenge on the grounds that LUCHA lacked the legal standing to sue.

Proposition 314 is designed to encourage border crossers to agree to deportation in exchange for dropped charges. LUCHA expressed outrage over the ruling, stating that immigrant communities are already facing aggressive enforcement.