Governor Jan Brewer Asks Federal Court to Reject Administration's Challenge to Arizona's Immigration Law

Press Release

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer this evening filed her response in federal court to the request by the U.S. Department of Justice to enjoin enforcement of Arizona's immigration law.

The Arizona Legislature enacted SB 1070 primarily to require that Arizona's law enforcement officers cooperate in the enforcement of federal immigration laws and, pursuant to the State's broad police powers, to adopt state crimes that mirror existing federal laws. Today's filing establishes that the citizens of Arizona will be irreparably harmed if the law is prevented from taking effect on July 29, 2010.

The Governor through her counsel informed the court that SB 1070 is "Arizona's legitimate and constitutionally permissible response to the crushing personal, environmental, criminal, and financial burdens thrust upon the State as a consequence of illegal immigration and the lack of comprehensive enforcement activity by the federal government and certain Arizona "sanctuary' cities".

"My filing today makes clear that the federal government will suffer no harm if SB 1070 is implemented because the Act requires only that Arizona's law enforcement officers act in accordance with their constitutional authority and congressionally established federal policy," stated Governor Brewer. "I am confident that the court will reject President Obama's attempt to prevent our State from protecting its citizens as a result of his failure to enforce federal immigration laws."

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