Symposium on Federalism at Work: State Criminal Law, Noncitizens and Immigration Related Activity - An Introduction

12 Loyola Journal of Public Interest Law 265 (2011)

11 Pages Posted: 17 May 2011 Last revised: 1 Oct 2012

See all articles by M. Isabel Medina

M. Isabel Medina

Loyola University New Orleans College of Law

Date Written: May 16, 2011

Abstract

Over the course of the last few decades states have become much more aggressive about undertaking state regulation of undocumented migration. To some extent, states have pursued these efforts because of the perception that the federal government has not done enough to discourage or prevent undocumented migration. The federal government, however, since the early 1990s, has been devoting greater resources and attention to addressing the problem of undocumented migration.

Notwithstanding the federal focus on immigration enforcement, in the past decade, states have sought to play a more active role in immigration enforcement and, in particular, in deterring or punishing undocumented or unauthorized migration. To some extent, federal immigration law facilitates cooperative state initiatives in law enforcement undertaken under federal supervision. Many state legislatures or municipalities unsatisfied with federal efforts, however, have gone further and enacted statutes that regulate immigration related activities or the status of being an undocumented or unauthorized non-citizen. One example is the ordinance adopted by the City of Hazleton, which among other things prohibited landlords from knowingly letting, leasing or renting a dwelling unit to an "illegal alien" and prohibited employment of undocumented aliens. Courts have enjoined the ordinance as preempted by federal law.

More recently, states have enacted statutes that impose criminal sanctions on a variety of immigration related activity. Perhaps the most famous of these initiatives is Arizona’s SB 1070. A similar bill was introduced before the Louisiana legislature recently. That bill was unsuccessful but "at least one Louisiana legislator has promised to introduce a similar statute for adoption in Louisiana."

This symposium at Loyola University New Orleans College of Law examined the role that state criminal law has or should have in the context of immigration, immigration related activities and unauthorized or undocumented migration.

Suggested Citation

Medina, M. Isabel, Symposium on Federalism at Work: State Criminal Law, Noncitizens and Immigration Related Activity - An Introduction (May 16, 2011). 12 Loyola Journal of Public Interest Law 265 (2011), Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1843401 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1843401

M. Isabel Medina (Contact Author)

Loyola University New Orleans College of Law ( email )

7214 St. Charles Ave., Box 901
Campus Box 901
New Orleans, LA 70118
United States

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