Arizona Immigration Bail Bond Law Rejected by Supreme Court

On Monday, June 1^st, The U.S. Supreme Court finalized the throw-out of an Arizona law that denies immigration bail bonds to any illegal immigrant charged with specific felonies. Although the law had been tremendously approved by Arizona voters in 2006, a lower appeals court determined last year that it violated civil rights. The appeals court stated that the law imposed punishment before trial on the detained illegal immigrants.

The no-bail law is thought to be the result of local politicians feeling the pressure from voters to take a stand against illegal immigration. Its purpose was to deny bail to any immigrant charged with felonies such as shoplifting, sexual assault and murder. Supporters of the law claim the regulation would keep illegal immigrants from skipping out on bail and continuing to commit further crimes.

It is unknown exactly how many detained illegal immigrants were denied bail bonds from the time the law was instated to the time it was overturned by the 9^th Circuit Court of Appeals last year, but it is thought to be over 1,000.

Opponents of the no-bail law stated that the regulation pushed apprehended illegal immigrants into making guilty pleas to felony charges because it made the immigrants’ ability to earn money for their families while detained impossible.

Former law maker, Russell Pearce, is disappointed by the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the Arizona no-bail law stating that it could have a negative effect on public safety.