Justice Department sues to block enforcement of controversial state immigration law.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is challenging the constitutionality of an Arizona law, passed earlier this year, that requires state and local police to investigate the legal status of anyone they suspect of being an illegal immigrant.
In a lawsuit filed this afternoon in federal court in Arizona, the Justice Department alleges the law interferes with federal government authority to set and enforce immigration policy. The DOJ also seeks an injunction to prevent the law from going into effect on July 29th.
“Arizonans are understandably frustrated with illegal immigration, and the federal government has a responsibility to comprehensively address those concerns,” Attorney General Eric Holder said. “But diverting federal resources away from dangerous aliens such as terrorism suspects and aliens with criminal records will impact the entire country’s safety. Setting immigration policy and enforcing immigration laws is a national responsibility. Seeking to address the issue through a patchwork of state laws will only create more problems than it solves.”
According to Reuters news service, Republicans were quick to condemn the filing of the lawsuit.
You can read the White House press statement about the lawsuit here.
–CFJ
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