http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=175677Arizona's crackdown on illegal aliens is "sound and constitutional" and will be found to be just that when a lawsuit by President Obama over the state's efforts to protect its own citizens and borders is resolved, according to Gov. Jan Brewer.
Brewer issued a statement after Obama's Justice Department said it was suing the state for allegedly usurping federal authority over protection of national borders.
"The truth is the Arizona law is both reasonable and constitutional," Brewer said. "It mirrors substantially what has been federal law in the United States for many decades. Arizona's law is designed to complement, not supplant, enforcement of federal immigration laws. Despite the Department of Justice's claims in paragraph 62 of today's lawsuit, Arizona is not trying 'to establish its own immigration policy' or 'directly regulate the immigration status of aliens.'"
Brewer pointed out the new law states "the federal government, along with local law enforcement officers authorized by the federal government, can only determine an alien's immigration status."
A subsection, she said, states that the law "shall be implemented in a manner consistent with federal laws regulating immigration."
"The irony," Brewer said, "is that President Obama's administration has chosen to sue Arizona for helping to enforce federal immigration law and not sue local governments that have adopted a patchwork of 'sanctuary' policies that directly violate federal law. These patchwork local 'sanctuary' policies instruct the police not to cooperate with federal immigration officials."
She apparently will not be defending the statute alone. The American Center for Law and Justice said it plans to file a friend-of-the-court brief in the case.
"This lawsuit by the Justice Department is flawed and a waste of taxpayer funds," said Jay Sekulow, chief counsel for the organization. "It's troubling that the federal government, which has repeatedly failed to secure our nation's borders, is now attempting to punish the state of Arizona for doing just that.
"Instead of spending taxpayer funds to challenge Arizona's constitutional right to protect its borders and its citizens, the Obama administration should secure Arizona's borders and the borders of other states," he continued. "The Arizona law is both sound and constitutional and we will be filing an amicus brief in support of the law representing thousands of U.S. citizens and members of Congress."
House Republican leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, also said Arizona has the right to defend itself.
"The violence on America's border is out of control, and the federal government isn't doing its job," he said. "The people of Arizona have a right to enforce their own laws, especially if the federal government is failing to live up to its responsibilities. The federal government shouldn't be suing Arizona – it should be helping Arizona, and other states, to stop the crime and lawlessness along the border.
"States have a right and a responsibility to ensure order and the safety of their citizens – especially when the federal government is asleep at the wheel. Arizona has been waiting for the Obama administration to secure the border and enforce our federal immigration laws, and they are still waiting," Boehner said. "America is a nation of immigrants. Throughout our history, we have grown and prospered because of the contributions of people from around the world who make their lives here."
But he said the immigration has to be through legal processes.
Brewer said her state is under siege "from violent Mexcian drug and immigrant smuggling cartels. Now, Arizona is under attack in federal court from President Obama."
"The best thing government can do is to create a stable, predictable environment, governed by an easily understood set of rules or laws. We do not need to make this more complicated than it already is. We must first and foremost create a secure border. Enhanced trade, economic opportunity and freedom will surely follow," she said.
"I have set up a legal defense fund to pay the substantial legal fees that Arizona has been, and will be, forced to incur as a result of all of these lawsuits," Brewer said, citing the KeepAzSafe.com site.
"Arizona will ultimately prevail against the lawsuits – including this latest assault by the Obama administration. Our laws will be found to be constitutional – because that is exactly what they are," she said.
Topic: Arizona crackdown called 'sound and constitutional' (Read 1368 times)