Arizona’s immigration law, SB 1070, takes center stage in Washington, D.C., this week.
Advocates on both sides of the debate will travel from Arizona to stake their positions.
Political fireworks will begin April 24 when SB 1070’s sponsor, Russell Pearce, speaks before a Senate Judiciary subcommittee on immigration.
Pearce has been the law’s staunchest defender. It’s forced thousands of illegal immigrants to leave Arizona, he says.
"Just the threat of 1070 has made a huge difference in the state of Arizona," Pearce said. "It is a success story."
A representative from Arizona Employers for Immigration Reform, a business group, will speak against the law and claim it’s bad for the state’s economy.
Former Arizona US Senator Dennis DeConcini will also attend the hearing as a witness.
Then, the drama shifts to the Supreme Court on Wednesday.
Justices will consider the injunctions that have put most of SB 1070 on hold, including the most controversial provision that requires police to check the immigration status of people they suspect are in the country illegally.
A group of immigrants will drive from Arizona to Washington to hold vigil outside the Supreme Court. Rosa Maria Soto lives in the US illegally, and will make the trip.
"Fear does not come from God," she says, explaining her outlook on living in Arizona two years after the law was passed. "Fear comes from the devil."
The Supreme Court likely won’t rule in the case until later this summer.
