From Sean Higgins in today’s Investors Business Daily:
Soon after Arizona passed its immigration law, critics argued that the action would isolate the Grand Canyon state. Boycotts would follow. Businesses would flee.
But the backlash never arrived. Instead, other states are pushing to adopt Arizona’s immigration restrictions. …
“I don’t expect to see anything until next year. I think everybody is waiting for the court decision,” Morse said. “There is a lot of talk, but most people are at the stages where they are still drafting bills.”
But if the court battles go the restrictionists’ way, Morse expects to see a lot of Arizona-style bills.
Actually, you won’t see anything til next year because most state legislative sessions start in January. But I agree that other states are probably going to wait to see how the Justice Department lawsuit against Arizona turns out. On the other hand, it’s possible some state, preferably in a different federal appeals court circuit, will pass a similar law to dare DoJ to sue them — it’s worked out amazingly well for Arizona’s Governor Brewer, after all. And if the appeals court in another circuit (Arizona’s in the Ninth Circuit) rules differently, it would make it much more likely the Supreme Court would take the case when it comes before them.