How The Networks Covered The Arizona Ruling This Morning

Ken AshfordRight Wing and Inept MediaLeave a Comment

This morning, the U.S. Supreme Court struck three provisions of the Arizona immigration law.  Two of them made it a crime for undocumented immigrants to be present and to seek employment in Arizona, while a third authorized police officers to make warrantless arrests of anyone they had probable cause to believe had committed a deportable offense.

It upheld only one provision — the so-called "papers please" provision.  The justices found that it was not clear whether Arizona was supplanting or supporting federal policy by requiring state law enforcement to demand immigration papers from anyone stopped, detained or arrested in the state who officers reasonably suspect is in the country without authorization. The provision that was upheld — at least for now — also commands police to check all arrestees' immigration status with the federal government before they are released.

So there you have it.  Three provisions struck down, and one with a "wait-and-see".  How did the networks cover it?

CNN: Key Parts Of The Law Rejected

CNN: Key Parts Of The Law Rejected

Fox News: Court Upholds Parts

Fox News: Court Upholds Parts

MSNBC: Courts Strike Down Most Parts

MSNBC: Courts Strike Down Most Parts

They are all accurate, but Fox is decidely spinning.