Phoenix, AZ, July 28, 2010 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today welcomed a federal judge's decision to temporarily block several key provisions of Arizona's controversial new immigration law, SB 1070.

Miriam Weisman, ADL Arizona Regional Chair, and Jennifer Twitchell, ADL Arizona Assistant Regional Director, issued the following statement:

ADL is gratified by today's decision, which recognizes that key provisions of Arizona's new immigration law place an unacceptable burden on Arizona residents, including non-citizens lawfully present in Arizona. 

Border security is a legitimate concern, but we must find ways to improve our immigration system without increasing the probability that legal resident aliens will be wrongfully detained.  SB 1070 is seriously flawed in this regard, and could deter many potential victims and witnesses of crimes from coming forward and talking to the police. 

The court also correctly concluded that the federal government has broad responsibilities and priorities in terms of  immigration enforcement, and SB 1070 would inappropriately interfere with and divert resources from those priorities.  Today's injunction – which should be made permanent – once again highlights the urgent need for comprehensive immigration reform.

As a nation of immigrants, we must strive to promote diversity, not punish it.  Today's ruling is an important step toward eliminating a discriminatory policy that would fan the flames of anti-immigrant sentiment.

Last month, ADL filed an amicus brief arguing that the proposed law would make Arizona less secure by driving a wedge between the Latino community and those local law enforcement agencies entrusted with protecting them.  This is an especially serious problem at a time when tensions are high and many Hispanics have been the targets of bias-motivated violence.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.