The Supreme Court upheld the Arizona law allowing for revocation of employers' business licenses if they employ unauthorized workers. For a summary, check out the
article at
www.abajournal.com.
Take a look at the following from the Supreme Court's opinion: "The Immigration Reform and Control Act (
IRCA) makes it 'unlawful for a person or other entity . . . to hire, or to recruit or refer for a fee,for employment in the United States an alien knowing the alien is an unauthorized alien.' 8 U. S. C. §1324a(a)(1)(A). Employers that violate that prohibition may be subjected to federal civil and criminal sanctions.
IRCA also restricts the ability of States to combat employment of unauthorized workers; the Act expressly preempts 'any State or local law imposing civil or criminal sanctions (other than through licensing and similar laws) upon those who employ, or recruit or refer for a fee for employment, unauthorized aliens.' §1324a(h)(2)." Those who might be inclined to think that this means certain defeat for opponents of the more aggressive state laws that Arizona and other states have passed (or are considering) should note the "other than through licensing and similar laws" language quoted in the Supreme Court opinion.
To read the opinion for yourself on the U.S. Supreme Court's website, click
here.