by Colton Shone/KTAR and KTAR Newsroom /May 26th, 2011 / PHOENIX -- Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer says the U.S. Supreme Court ruling upholding Arizona's employee sanctions law means states are free to take down the "help wanted" sign for illegal aliens.

Brewer joined Arizona Senate President Russell Pearce in declaring Thursday's ruling a big win for the state.

By a 5-3 margin, the high court upheld the law which penalizes employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants.

Brewer and Pearce, both Republicans and leaders in a crackdown on illegal immigration, said they believe the ruling bodes well for Senate Bill 1070, Arizona's sweeping immigration law signed by Brewer a year ago. Arizona is appealing lower court rulings, voiding parts of SB1070, to the nation's highest court.

"In light of today's decision, I am more adamant than ever that states do have a complimentary role in enforcing federal immigration laws, despite the Obama Administration's opposition at every turn," Brewer said in a statement. "I want to assure Arizonans, and all Americans, that the state of Arizona will not rest until the federal government secures our border and enforces federal immigration laws."

Royal Oakes, legal consultant for ABC News, agreed the ruling might be good for SB1070.

"This ruling may be good news for defenders of Arizona's controversial law that lets officers check the immigration status of detainees, where police have reason to think they're in the country illegally. The court may be sending a message that states have broad rights to enact immigration controls."

Pearce said the ruling is a defeat for the open borders crowd and a "death penalty" for employers who ignore the law and hire illegals instead of American workers.

The president and CEO of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce, Glenn Hamer, said his group still believes that immigration laws are the job of the federal government and that the Supreme Court ruling probably will encourage a "crazy-quilt of employee verification and immigration laws across the country."

Hamer said the chamber will continue to educate its members on how to comply with the law.

Lydia Guzman with Somos America said she was disappointed with the Supreme Court.

"This country should be looking at ways to put Americans back to work, to put everybody back to work," Guzman said. "Instead, what it's doing is creating obstacles."

She believes the law will open the door for more discrimination against legal immigrants.

"We're talking about U.S. citizens that were naturalized, we're talking about legal permit residents or people who have work permits or work visas," she said.

James Garcia with the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce also voiced concern that the law gives states some authority over immigration.

"The idea that employers should not be hiring undocumented immigrants, as with immigration law, really is a question that the federal government should be addressing," Garcia said.

He said the ruling will lead to employers profiling job candidates.

"This leaves open the opportunity for employers to make judgments about people they're employing, potentially based on race or whether or not they have an accent or that sort of thing, or maybe even their surname in terms of applications they may get in the mail or resumes."

Garcia said he hopes law enforcement officers do not use the ruling to go after employers more aggressively. http://ktar.com/category/local-news-art ... ons-ruling