Judge Blocks Key Parts of Arizona's Immigration Law
MAX FOSTER, GUEST HOST: A U.S. federal judge drops key parts of a controversial immigration law in the state of Arizona. It's a case that's gripped Americans for and against and will continue to be fought in the highest courts. But it also resonates on the border and far beyond. Tonight, we speak with a former Mexican president about what today's decision means for the people of his continent. On CNN, this is the hour we connect the world. Law S.B. 1070 goes into effect in 11 hours. But the section that calls for officers to check a person's immigration status has been put on hold. From coast to coast in the U.S. and around the world, this is a story with real ramifications. I'm Max Foster in London. And we're going to hear from a former Mexican president, Vicente Fox. Also tonight, BP's next boss.</s>ROBERT DUDLEY, BP CEO-DESIGNATE: Great emphasis on safety, operating systems that are not safe enough.</s>FOSTER: Well, if you're improving safety now...</s>DUDLEY: Obviously, we have to accelerate greatly.</s>FOSTER: Bob Dudley admits to me BP's safety protocols weren't good enough. The full interview up ahead. And Hans Blix.</s>HANS BLIX: Well, I think it is a tragedy. And I've got</s>FOSTER: The UN's chief weapons inspector at the time of shock and awe in Iraq answers your questions tonight. He's your Connector of the Day. Keep getting involved in the show. You cannot only ask guests questions, you can suggest people we should be speaking to, as well. Head to CNN.com/connect for details. An eleventh hour decision the day before a new immigration law was set to take effect in the U.S. state of Arizona, a judge has blocked the most controversial part of it. That portion of the law would have required police to investigate the immigration status of anyone detained for another reason, if there was reason to suspect the person was in the United States illegally. The decision to block that part of the law was handed down just a few hours ago. But other parts of the law will still be implemented starting tonight. All of this took place at the federal courthouse in Phoenix, Arizona. And that's where CNN's Jessica Yellin has been gauging opinion -- Jessica.</s>JESSICA YELLIN, CNN NATIONAL POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Max. The views here in Arizona, as you might imagine, are dividend. Folks who oppose this law tell us they believe this is a -- a partial victory because she has not struck down those controversial pieces of the law, but simply halted them from going into effect because this could continue. They say, though, it is a relief -- a great relief, in particular, to law enforcement officers who object to the law and did not want to begin enforcing it tomorrow. However, there are a great many law enforcement officers who support the law and others who are chagrined right now. And the governor, who supports this law, says she vows to fight on. She has already made it clear that she will appeal this ruling, take it to the 9th Circuit here in the United States, appealing it to the next level. And I spoke earlier today, Max, with the man who wrote this law. He said he welcomes this fight. He said he's not surprised the judge did this. And he believes -- he said he actually wrote the law for it to be challenged all the way up the U.S. Supreme Court. He wants that fight, he says, so that the court can uphold his right -- and this state's right, in his view -- to enforce federal immigration laws because folks in Arizona who are on his side believe that the Feds aren't doing their job so the state has to step in. It is an emotional, bitter fight that now clearly is going to continue. Now, Max, many masses of protesters are still expected to pour into this state to object to the law in principle for protests throughout the day tomorrow -- Max.</s>FOSTER: There are many parts of this law, of course, but the key part has been put on hold. Does that mean that people feel less strongly about it right now and will focus, then, on the legal processes being moved ahead, which focuses on that -- on that key part of the law that most people seem concerned about?</s>YELLIN: It is said -- you might expect that this would relax people because it means that the most controversial piece of this is put off. But, in fact, it's almost a thorn in the side of supporters of the law, because their whole complaint all along has been the federal government isn't really doing its job here. And they're saying the federal government isn't doing its job here, therefore the state has to. Now, this renews that frustration all over again, because the federal government has stepped in and asked them to hold this law. They think that's unfair. They say this is a battle of epic proportions. And it's a sign that the federal -- the Feds are fighting the states. And that's only stirring up more dissension here in Arizona and, actually, throughout this country, where there is a movement -- a growing movement here -- and the Tea Party in particular, of states' rightists who feel the Feds are overstepping their power -- Max.</s>FOSTER: Jessica, thank you so much for that. Well, as of now, Arizona is home to nearly half a million illegal immigrants. But that's just a small fraction, really, of the total number living in the United States, overall. Most are from Latin America. Around 6.7 million from Mexico and more than one million others are from Central American nations, including El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. So regardless of what happens in Arizona, there are still millions of Mexicans living in the United States illegally, with more trying to cross the border every day. Joining me now to discuss the issues, the former president of Mexico, Vicente Fox. Mr. Fox, you're joining us from the library that's been set up in your name. Thank you so much for joining us with that. I -- I just want to ask you, first of all, about your reaction about this latest bit of news that we have that, actually, the full law isn't going to efficient straightaway and the most controversial part of it is on hold. Is that good news, as far as you're concerned?</s>VICENTE FOX, FORMER MEXICAN PRESIDENT: Well, it -- well, thank you for the interview. It does show it's a positive step, but, of course, it's not enough, because we have here a law that is basically mandatory against precisely Mexican immigrants which are working for somebody there, that do have a job, that somebody is hiring them and that they are contributing to the better of the U.S. economy's competitiveness. Number two, it's a unilateral decision, that law, because we are partners through NAFTA. We are supposed to be working together, building a better future for both of our nations. Number three, it's shortsighted, because immigration is</s>FOSTER: OK. I just want to throw now to some video we've got for you, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer. I'm just going to get her perspective, because she comes from a completely different perspective. And I want to just get your reaction to it. Let's hear what she had to say.</s>GOV. JAN BREWER (R), ARIZONA: They need to step up, the Feds do, and do the job that they have the responsibility to do for the people of America and for the people of Arizona. And with that, we'll just...</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A victory or a defeat for the state of Arizona today?</s>BREWER: Well, it's -- obviously, it's a little bump in the road, I believe, and that, you know, until I get my whole arms around it, we don't really exactly know where we're going to go. We knew regardless of what happened today, of course, that one side or the other side was going to appeal.</s>FOSTER: Jan Brewer there. I -- I know you had problems hearing that. So effectively, she was saying this is just a bump in the road and the full law, she thinks, will be fully enacted at some point in future. Do you think it will eventually be put into law? And, if so, what sort of impact will that have? What sort of reaction will it be from Mexico, for example?</s>FOX: Well, our reaction is that it is an unfair law. It's discriminatory but more so it affects the same United States. It affects the leadership of the United States and the state of Arizona, because we do have a commitment, through NAFTA. And we are building that better future. Now, these people should be considered documented, should be documented as soon as possible, as long as they have a job. When they don't have a job, I would understand that they send them back. But that doesn't mean that human rights can be violated, that our people can be greeted with violence by police or anybody else. I don't think the leader is proceeding with the passion and the compassion that has always worked this leading nation of the United States.</s>FOSTER: What we have here is a situation, though, where you're defending workers in the United States and Mexico who are adding to that economy and there's no -- no doubt true. But the only people that should be affected by this are illegal immigrants. So are you suggesting, also, that illegal immigrants add to the U.S. economy and they should be defended somehow?</s>FOX: Well, but this is policing and enforcing actions against citizens that should deserve free transit in the United States and should have the opportunity to be there and -- and not necessarily meaning legally. But how a policeman is going to distinguish who is what and who is who, I think that this is going to be against -- it's totally discriminatory to our people there. But -- but I want to see the long rung -- the long run, which is where we are building that future. And I think that we should sit down and not act unilaterally, that the state of Arizona, the federal government, Congress, we should discuss and they should sit down, use wisdom, use intelligence because building walls and taking these kind of actions is not working together. It's not working as partners. Many people in the States -- and this is a good opportunity -- don't know that Mexico buys more products and services from the United States than from Italy, Germany, France and -- and Britain together. We are a solid partner of that nation. We account for millions and millions and millions of jobs for U.S. citizens. And we're not building walls, we're not avoiding U.S. citizens to come and work here in Mexico. I think that we should use reason. We should use intelligence. We should use wisdom to take the decisions that we must take, we, both partners, the United States and Mexico.</s>FOSTER: But what about Mexico taking a greater responsibility in this and building a future for Mexicans which they don't want to escape from and go to Arizona for?</s>FOX: Well, we -- we are doing our part of the -- of the job. We're trying to build the jobs. We do have jobs. Of course, not enough. But it's still people that even having that job, they like to move out and look for better opportunities, better salaries. Like U.S. citizens are doing right now, going to China. I mean why are they going to China? Why doesn't China say, OK, we don't want Americans here? Or the ones that come to Mexico or Brazil? This is people looking for a better life and they deserve to be treated equally. They deserve to be respected in their dignity and they deserve to be appreciated on the work they are doing. And of course if somebody is there a criminal, somebody is not complying with the law, if somebody is -- it's -- is that kind of people, send them back or like we do here.</s>FOSTER: OK. President Vicente Fox, thank you very much, indeed for joining us on the program today. Now, before today's court injunction, many immigrant families were moving out of Arizona to avoid the law. CNN's Thelma Gutierrez spent time with one of those families just before they left.</s>THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In a middle class suburb near Mesa, Arizona, a family is packing it up -- preparing to flee the state. They asked us to call them "Carlos" and "Samantha."</s>CARLOS, LEAVING ARIZONA: This is the living room. This is my boy's room.</s>GUTIERREZ (on camera): Yes, they're all empty.</s>CARLOS: Yes. I mean, everything we worked for.</s>GUTIERREZ (voice-over): They say they were living the American dream -- a house, two kids, a small jewelry business that catered to Latinos. But when his customers, many of whom were immigrants, started losing their jobs and leaving the state, his business collapsed. Now, he says, he, too, wants to get out before S.B. 1070 goes into effect. (on camera): You love the state?</s>CARLOS: Arizona, yes.</s>GUTIERREZ: And now?</s>CARLOS: Little by little, they're pushing us out.</s>GUTIERREZ: They would say you're leaving because you want to go. You don't have to go.</s>CARLOS: I don't -- I don't have to go, but yes, for my -- for my family's sake.</s>GUTIERREZ (on camera): Your wife is undocumented?</s>CARLOS: Yes.</s>GUTIERREZ (voice-over): Carlos is a legal resident. Their children are American. But he says he can't run the risk that his wife could be arrested and deported. (on camera): You're one family who's leaving. Do you think that there are others?</s>CARLOS: There's many. There is a lot of people that left from here as soon as this started.</s>GUTIERREZ (voice-over): Todd Landfried agrees.</s>TODD LANDFRIED, ARIZONA EMPLOYERS FOR IMMIGRATION REFORM: There's an empty car dealership. This was just a -- another strip mall in a Latino neighborhood of Mesa.</s>GUTIERREZ: Landfried represents a group called Arizona Employers for Immigration Reform. He drove us through Mesa, Arizona and pointed out what he says is the fallout from the state's tough immigration laws and a bad economy.</s>LANDFRIED: Any time you start running people out of a state, you make it harder for the businesses that provide services to those people, whether they're here legally or not. They're not going to be able to fill their strip malls. They're not going to be able to fill their apartment complexes.</s>RUSSELL PEARCE, ARIZONA STATE SENATE: If it comes with that invasion of illegal aliens, it's a destruction to the rule of law and a damage to the taxpayer. There's a cost to that.</s>GUTIERREZ: Russell Pearce is a state senator and the author of S.B. 1070. He also lives in Mesa, Arizona. (on camera): Do you believe that there's any correlation between those empty businesses and Russell Pearce's law?</s>PEARCE: Well, I think there's a correlation, probably. I think there's a correlation</s>GUTIERREZ (voice-over): Credit, he says, for forcing people like Carlos and Samantha to self-deport. (on camera): What do those boxes represent to you?</s>SAMANTHA (through translator): A lot of memories.</s>GUTIERREZ: You don't want to go?</s>SAMANTHA: After 18 years of being here, we have to start all over again in another state.</s>GUTIERREZ (voice-over): Carlos says he will remember Arizona as the state that allowed him to achieve his American dream and as the state that took it away. Thelma Gutierrez, CNN, Mesa, Arizona.</s>FOSTER: Now, although the Arizona law will not take effect in its planned form, Thelma Gutierrez reports that Carlos and Samantha have already purchased a new home in another state. And meanwhile, the proposed law has dividend people not just in Arizona, but all over the world. All this week, CONNECT THE WORLD has been soliciting your opinions on our Web site, asking you to weigh in on the controversial law. Here's what some of you have said.</s>QUINTON BUTTERFIELD: A lot of people say that, you know, it's not racist or it doesn't kind of promote racial profiling. But I believe it does. If someone doesn't sound like an American or, quote, unquote, look like an American, you know, it allows the police to -- to kind of pull them over and harass that person. It doesn't seem fair that, you know, someone should have to go through that.</s>PETER ZIVANOVIC: I'm for all immigration reforms. I'm for the law. I mean to tell you the truth, that law didn't bother me. I came in under all necessary paperwork. I had paperwork. I believe they should make it even stricter.</s>MARY BETH HENSON: I feel strongly against the Arizona law, because I feel that it's a question of racial profiling and I just feel that the law, in its spirit, is mean and sort of nasty. But I actually had an interesting conversation with my friend's husband, who says that, you know, the law is basically just requiring people to carry I.D. and saying that they could be asked for I.D. at any time. And interestingly enough, they have that law here in France for everyone and they have always. And he just accepts that as being normal. And I didn't realize that that's a law. I know that I have to have my I.D. on me in France, even though I've never been asked for it. So I found to be kind of a -- I'm against the law, but I actually have that law here in France.</s>FOSTER: Well, those stories are just a few of the responds we've been getting on our Web site ahead of our special immigration coverage tomorrow. That's when we're bringing you a special edition of CONNECT THE WORLD devoted entirely to this issue. And we want to hear from you, too. Head to CNN.com/connect to share your thoughts. This is all part of a special week of coverage on CNN devoted to the worldwide debate over immigration and the conflicts that arise because of it. It's an issue that knows no specific borders and we'll look at all the viewpoints -- those stories of people who cross borders willingly. Now we turn our attention to those who are forced to -- forced or deceived, even, into -- into leaving their homes.