Sen. Daniel Inouye issued a statement in response to the Supreme Court ruling that struck down key parts of an Arizona immigration law. The 5-3 decision left untouched some controversial parts of the law, like police authority to check a person’s immigration status while enforcing other laws. 

“The Supreme Court was on the right path, but I would like to have seen this discriminatory piece of Arizona legislation done away with entirely,” Inouye said in a statement. “I am happy to say that Hawaii doesn’t treat immigrants in this fashion.”

Inouye went on to say that he remembers “all too well a time in this country when people were judged and divided by the color of their skin.”  

“No American should come under suspicion for their appearance or their last name,” he said. 

Sen. Daniel Akaka’s office also issued a statement on Monday. Here’s an excerpt: 

“I am concerned that the part of the law left in place – allowing local police to check the immigration status of anyone suspected to be in the country illegally – will target individuals based on appearance and speech.”

The New York Times characterized the decision as a partial victory for the Obama administration, which sought to block several aspects of the law.