The 5-3 decision upholds the Legal Arizona Workers Act of 2007 and its so-called business death penalty for employers who are caught repeatedly hiring illegal immigrants. The state law also requires employers to check the federal E-Verify system before hiring new workers, a provision that was also upheld Thursday.

Civil rights and business groups challenged the law, arguing that it conflicted with federal immigration policy. The 5-3 decision, however, concluded that the law fits Congress' definition of what states can do because the enforcement involves a state license.

Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne said the decision "is a favorable portent for Arizona's case in the SB1070 case. In the (E-Verify) case, it was argued that federal law preempts Arizona's efforts to be sure that employers check the citizenship status of employees."  The Obama administration opposed both measures.

The fact that the Supreme Court found no preemption in the E-Verify case "should be a favorable indication for legal principals that will be applicable when the SB1070 case reaches the U.S. Supreme Court," Horne said in a news release.

Supporters of the law say that Thursday's decision is a major victory for those who understand that removing the lure of jobs is a major key to solving our illegal immigration crisis.

Jennifer Allen, executive director of Border Action Network, a human rights organization in Arizona, stated that the decision was dangerous. "Arizona's residents and businesses have suffered enough in the wake of unnecessary immigration enforcement legislation. This decision will only exacerbate those struggles ... and erode the civil rights of job seekers, who could now be denied an employment opportunity because of their last name," she said.
Supreme Court on Thursday gave Arizona and other states more authority to take action against illegal immigrants and the companies that hire them, ruling that employers who knowingly hire illegal workers can lose their license to do business.

The court's decision did not deal with the more controversial Arizona law passed last year that gave police more authority to stop and question those who are suspected of being in the state illegally. But the ruling is likely to encourage the state and its supporters because the court majority said states remained free to take action involving immigrants.  As the image of the poster at the beginning of the article says, many in Arizona believe that they are doing the job the federal government won't do by being touch on illegal immigration.

Thursday's decision is a defeat for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, several civil-rights groups and the Obama administration, all of whom opposed the Arizona law and its sanctions on employers. They argued that federal law said states may not impose "civil or criminal sanctions" on employers.