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A UMNS Report
By Kathy L. Gilbert*

7:00 A.M. June 28, 2012

Bishop Minerva Carcaño addresses the crowd during an Immigration Rally on the National Mall in Washington on March 21, 2010. A UMNS photo by Christian Galdabini.
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United Methodist advocates for comprehensive immigration reform see the Supreme Court ruling on Arizona’s immigration law, SB 1070, as progress but are disappointed by the provision that allows “racial profiling” to continue.

The ruling rejected most of the law but kept intact a provision that allows police to check the immigration status of anyone detained if there is “reasonable suspicion” the person might be in the United States illegally. This activity is commonly called “racial profiling.”

“While it was disappointing to see the Supreme Court of the United States uphold the likely continuing of racial profiling by Arizona law enforcement against Arizona's residents, the fact that the rest of this misguided legislation was struck down is quite significant,” said Bill Mefford, staff of The United Methodist Board of Church and Society. “Immigration reform must be handled by the federal government. … Reform can and must be passed this year and it must be just and humane.”

Immigration reform has been at the top of the list for the past several years for Mefford and the social action agency as well as thousands of other United Methodists and faith leaders. 

The ruling got “some parts right” said the Rev. John L. McCullough, a United Methodist pastor and executive director and CEO of Church World Service, a United Methodist partner. Racial profiling was left “to another day and thus prolonged civil and human rights abuses in Arizona,” he said.

The Rev. Jim Perdue, a United Methodist immigration missionary, said that while several groups say the ruling was a step backward, he is “a little more guarded” about the ruling. Perdue serves at the Desert Southwest (regional) Conference and on immigration issues for the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries.

“The justices argued that Section 2 in and of itself doesn’t tread on the rights of individuals or on the sovereignty of the federal government, but it has the potential to,” he said. “It all depends upon how the law is enforced.

“The opinion of the court, by taking great pains to outline the possible ways that the law can create harm, also stands as a clear warning to law enforcement in Arizona and other states that they will be watched for specific rights violations,” he said.

Bishop Julius C. Trimble, United Methodist Iowa Annual (regional) Conference, said the journey toward humane immigration reform continues. The Supreme Court ruling on Arizona’s law as well as President Obama’s recent decision to stop deportation of certain young people is good news.

“This does not alleviate the need for United Methodists and persons of faith to continue to advocate for humane treatment of all citizens including those persons who may not have legal documentation,” he said. Trimble and Bishop Minerva Carcaño are co-leaders of the United Methodist Interagency Task Force on Immigration.

Carcaño, Desert Southwest Annual Conference, has been a vocal opponent of the Arizona law since it was enacted in 2010. She said the impact of the law “has been nothing but devastating” to Arizonans.

“The centerpiece of this legislation has allowed for racial profiling, which has created fear in Arizona’s residents and weakened trust in local law enforcement. While I celebrate the fact that the Supreme Court ruled the majority of SB 1070 unconstitutional, I am disappointed that the provision for local law enforcement to continue to function as immigration officials has largely been left in place,” she said in reaction to the Supreme Court ruling.

Read more about the church and immigration.

* Gilbert is a multimedia reporter for the young adult content team at United Methodist Communications, Nashville, Tenn.

News media contact: Kathy L. Gilbert, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.