Mableton Illegal Immigrants Return From DC after Supreme Court Ruling

Monday’s Supreme Court ruling to strike down the bulk of Arizona’s controversial 2010 immigration law came one day before the National DREAM Graduation, where some 500 recently graduated undocumented students from across the country descended on Washington, D. C. to develop action plans for their uncertain futures.

The Supreme Court ruling struck down Arizona Senate Bill 1070’s:

• requirement that all immigrants carry immigration registration papers,
• provision making it a criminal offense for any Arizona inhabitant who is not a legal resident to seek or hold a job and
• provision allowing police to arrest suspected illegal immigrants without warrants.

However, the Supreme Court did uphold the “Papers Please” provision, which requires police to question people’s immigration status if the police suspect they are in the country without legal documents.

Undocumented students from South Cobb, throughout Georgia and from 16 other states donned caps and gowns for the mock graduation ceremony, similar to many held all over the country to commemorate the thousands of undocumented students who graduated from American high schools this year.

For some of the DREAMers, the recent executive action by President Barack Obama and the Supreme Court ruling signal hope for a path to citizenship.

Juan Carlos Guevara, a 22-year-old from Mableton, traveled 11 hours by bus to attend the mock graduation.

He said he’s spent $22,000 –all of his college savings– “fighting off deportation.”

Guevara has lived in the U.S. for the last six years and is facing the government’s second attempt to deport him back to his native country of Mexico. He said his immigration status was discovered when he was transported to a hospital after an accident caused by a drunk driver.

“I hope they’ll let me stay,” Guevara told Fox News Latino.

Dulce Guerrero, an undocumented Mableton resident who emceed the ceremony held at the Lutheran Church of Reformation near the U.S. Supreme Court and Capitol, arrived home Wednesday night with other undocumented Georgians.

She said the “Papers Please” provision “still leads to racial profiling” and added that the ruling is a “step towards progress, but I feel like there is still work to do.”

After the mock graduation ceremony, Guerrero and others marched to the U.S. Supreme Court and legislative offices urging the passage of the DREAM Act.

Here in Georgia, Guerrero protested Georgia’s House Bill 87 as . The bill, which eventually was enacted as law, was similar to Arizona’s SB1070.

Guerrero and others eventually

Other South Cobb residents have weighed in about the decision, which has apparently given President Barack Obama a boost in recent polls.

Rich Pellegrino, Austell resident and founder of the Cobb Immigrant Alliance, said, “Initially, to a great extent, I was enthused by it.”

However, Pellegrino said the drawbacks were that the decision was not a unanimous one and leaving the “papers please” provision will cause confusion for states who have enacted similar laws.

“It’s definitely a step in the right direction,” Pellegrino said, adding that various events in recent weeks point to a light at the end of the tunnel for immigrants.

“It also shows Georgia’s wasting its time and taxpayer money… Immigration is not a political issue. It’s a human issue,” he said.

Both parties are claiming the ruling as a victory.

What Democrats had to say:

• Georgia House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams stated, "The Supreme Court today issued a troubling ruling that encourages racial profiling, and we must remain vigilant that this does not happen in Georgia. We are very disappointed by the "show your papers" provision, which returns us to a terrible time in our state's history. Human rights must be protected for all - regardless of race or status. This ruling allows racial profiling to resume in Georgia. The fact that it is now legal does not make it right, and we call upon the Governor and the GOP leadership to repeal this disturbing trend in our state's lawmaking."

Abrams continued, “Our state has other pressing priorities - we need money for education and economic development - not ill-conceived immigration enforcement programs. Today's ruling reminds us of the need to make our voices heard this November at the ballot box. The only way we can win the long-term fight for working families is by engaging in democracy and in the electoral process.”

What Republicans said:

• Rep. Rich Golick (R-Smyrna) who helped craft HB 87 called the SCOTUS ruling a victory for the Georgia law because it does not include the three provisions struck down by the high court. He told the MDJ, “it seems as if the Georgia law had a good day at the Supreme Court, and it seems to validate the measured approach taken by (state Rep. Matt Ramsey, a Peachtree City Republican) and myself.”

What did you think about the Supreme Court's decision on the Arizona immigration law? Tell us below in the comments.