One of the most anticipated Supreme Court decisions in recent times -- Obamacare -- was not announced Monday . That gave an air of anti-climax to an important decision that was handed down , one with its own political baggage and implications for the election , although not nearly as fraught with peril as the health care law . In any other session , the outcome of Arizona v. United States might have been the headline case of a Supreme Court season . Instead , the Obama administration will have to celebrate an incomplete victory in the next 72 hours before the court delivers its ruling on the fate of Obama 's signature legislation . The White House largely won in challenging Arizona 's harsh 2010 immigration law , although it might be difficult to sell that point . Last year , the 9th U.S . Circuit Court of Appeals struck down four provisions of the law , ruling that the federal government pre-empted state regulation on immigration . The Supreme Court mostly agreed . Unfortunately for the administration , the Supreme Court reversed the lower court on the most controversial part of the law , the `` show me your papers '' provision that requires law enforcement officers to check the immigration status of people while enforcing other laws . Arguably , this provision was designed to force the federal government to take action on illegal immigrants by identifying them to the Department of Homeland Security . By upholding this provision , the Supreme Court allowed Gov . Jan Brewer to claim victory for Arizona 's immigration enforcement efforts : . `` Today 's decision by the U.S. Supreme Court is a victory for the rule of law . It is also a victory for the 10th Amendment and all Americans who believe in the inherent right and responsibility of states to defend their citizens . After more than two years of legal challenges , the heart of SB 1070 can now be implemented in accordance with the U.S . Constitution . '' But that narrow win is tenuous . The court pointedly did not rule that the provision was constitutional , which means that further court cases may well strike it down at a later date . Arizona can put it into effect , but it probably wo n't take too much time before a case comes up that will put the provision back under scrutiny . The White House will portray the Supreme Court 's ruling on immigration as a principled victory over a state that had infringed on federal prerogatives to manage immigration . It may even get a couple of days ' worth of traction on that argument . That wo n't last long , though , for two reasons . First , the coming Obamacare ruling will vastly overshadow this nuanced win by Thursday morning . Second , this win serves as a reminder that the Obama administration has done a poor job of enforcing immigration law -- and along with Obama 's recent decision to stop deporting some young illegal immigrants -- border states have no reason to expect a second term that will improve on the first .
Ed Morrissey : High court ruling on Arizona immigration law is largely a win for president . Morrissey : Ruling is an incomplete win since the fate of Obamacare coming within days . Case is a reminder Obama has done a poor job of enforcing immigration law , he says .