The high court ruled that the most controversial section of the law should go into effect. Section 2B requires an officer to make a reasonable attempt to determine the immigration status of a person stopped, detained or arrested if there’s reasonable suspicion that person is in the country illegally.

The majority, in a split decision, struck down sections of SB 1070 that make it a state crime for an immigrant not to be carrying registration papers, allow for warrantless arrest in some situations and forbid an illegal immigrant from working in Arizona.

Justices said states could not overstep the federal government’s immigration-enforcement authority but allowed that it was proper for states to partner with the federal government in immigration enforcement.

Obama, in a written statement Monday, said his administration will be watching as Section 2B is enforced.

“No American should ever live under a cloud of suspicion just because of what they look like,” he said. “Going forward, we must ensure that Arizona law enforcement officials do not enforce this law in a manner that undermines the civil rights of Americans, as the Court’s decision recognizes.” 

—From the Arizona Republic News (Click here to read the full article.)