The Arizona Workers Act 2007 was finally challenged by the US Supreme Court. The act was not feasible for business or workers. The court challenge was backed by an assortment of supporters like business organizations, civil and immigrant rights groups, Congressmen, Labor unions as well as members of the Obama administration.

The former Arizona state Governor Janet Napolitano, currently the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security said that the “Arizona state law” was nothing less than a death penalty! That’s because the penalty imposed by this law killed the prospects of business and the aftermath was devastating. The United States Chamber of Commerce detests intentionally hiring undocumented workers. The penalties are in fact so severe, that the employers refrain from hiring even those who “appear” like immigrants. This obviously will cause indiscrimination piled in the job applications. The Immigration Reform and Control Act in 1986, was brought out by the Congress to strike the balance between equality of opportunity and tackling illegal immigrants.

The immigrant enforcement laws enacted by the Congress in 1986 were stifled by many of the state laws. The federal policy encourages the voluntary usage of E-Verify. But many states seemed to go on a different rampage over the immigration enforcement infact; some of them invented their own verification procedures. Some even modified the Federal 1-9 program.

Immigration is a national issue. The individual state laws have caused a chaotic situation which rendered the businesses and even the workers unhappy. The United States Constitution in article clearly states that “The laws of the United States … shall be the supreme law of the land.” So no matter how many laws the states devise it is ultimately the federal law that shall prevail. The Congress is determined to get nationwide uniformity in the immigration policies.