Q&A Guide to Arizona v. United States

On June 25, 2012, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision in Arizona v. United States striking down three provisions of the immigration law known as "SB 1070" and leaving a fourth open to future legal challenges. More than any matter in recent history, the case settled a range of important questions regarding the role that states may play in the enforcement of federal immigration law. The Court’s decision will affect not only the future of SB 1070, but the fate of other state immigration laws being challenged in court and the odds of similar laws being passed around the country. This guide provides brief answers to common questions about Arizona v. United States, including how the Supreme Court decided the case and what the ruling means for immigration laws in other states.