(CNN) -- With her signature Friday on Senate Bill 1070, Gov. Jan Brewer launched Arizona into a maelstrom of national controversy, community conflict and extreme fiscal risk. In doing so, she failed a basic test of courageous leadership -- recognizing and acting responsibly when political symbolism and populist pandering crosses into dangerous policy. The governor should have known better, if only because recent history demonstrates the folly in enacting measures like Arizona's SB 1070. SB 1070 will be subject to multiple legal challenges, and the state will devote precious resources to defend a law that has so many serious constitutional flaws that it will likely never be implemented. The neighboring state of California faced this circumstance 15 years ago when Gov. Pete Wilson championed Proposition 187, enacted by voters in November 1994.
@highlight
New immigration law follows in footsteps of California's Prop. 187, says Thomas Saenz
@highlight
He says California found that its attempt to control immigration was pre-empted by federal law
@highlight
Saenz says Arizona will have to expend resources to administer and flawed legislation
Proposition 187
Moreover, even though @placeholder was never implemented, California suffered other repercussions besides the waste of limited state financial resources.
Pete Wilson
Today, so many years later, the political sins of @placeholder continue to be visited upon the heads of California politicians from his political party.
Arizona
Arizona
Arizona
In particular, the claim that felled the California initiative applies in even greater measure to the @placeholder bill.
Proposition 187
The federal court struck down @placeholder as an unconstitutional attempt to regulate immigration, which is a role that belongs exclusively to the federal government.
Senate Bill 1070
SB 1070
SB 1070
Indeed, what we have seen since Friday is the usual pivot by those who propose and support unconstitutional laws like @placeholder.
Arizona
Arizona
Arizona
They and other proponents have at various times maintained, in more or less blatant contradiction of their rhetorical defense of the law's constitutional propriety, that SB 1070 is a much-needed change in current law that will strengthen @placeholder.
Arizona
Arizona
Arizona
Nonetheless, @placeholder will experience extreme and dire consequences, just as California experienced a decade-and-a-half ago.
California
California
California
Nonetheless, Arizona will experience extreme and dire consequences, just as @placeholder experienced a decade-and-a-half ago.