July 29, 2010 | New York Times
In an opinion piece for the Times' "Room for Debate" column, Temple Law professor Peter Spiro responded to the question: Now that a federal judge has blocked key aspects of Arizona's new immigration law, what will be the fallout? "This is a significant legal victory for the Justice Department, one that will probably stick on appeal. Whether it will end up being a significant victory for immigrants is another question," wrote Spiro. "Congress has dropped the ball on immigration reform and now we have the courts telling the states that they can’t pick it up. Anti-immigrant activists will redouble their efforts to mandate more effective enforcement at the federal level and to block anything that smacks of amnesty. What comes out of this new mix may not serve immigrant interests."