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Jan Brewer responds to Eric Holder’s Justice Dept
by DA Morales on Jul. 06, 2010First was a response by Terry Goddard, now our unelected governor responds to the Justice Department’s lawsuit against Arizona.
Statement by Governor Jan Brewer
PHOENIX – “Today I was notified that the federal government has filed a lawsuit against the State of Arizona. It is wrong that our own federal government is suing the people of Arizona for helping to enforce federal immigration law. As a direct result of failed and inconsistent federal enforcement, Arizona is under attack from violent Mexican drug and immigrant smuggling cartels. Now, Arizona is under attack in federal court from President Obama and his Department of Justice. Today’s filing is nothing more than a massive waste of taxpayer funds. These funds could be better used against the violent Mexican cartels than the people of Arizona.
“The truth is the Arizona law is both reasonable and constitutional. 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.’ Arizona Revised Statutes § 11-1051(E) states that the federal government, along with local law enforcement officers authorized by the federal government, can only determine an alien’s immigration status. Subsection (L) of that same section goes on to state that the law ‘shall be implemented in a manner consistent with federal laws regulating immigration.’
“The irony 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.
“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.
“I am pleased that President Obama and the Department of Justice did not pursue the baseless claims of illegal racial profiling in the lawsuit. When signing S.B. 1070, I said, ‘My signature today represents my steadfast support for enforcing the law — both against illegal immigration AND against racial profiling.’ Arizona’s law expressly prohibits unconstitutional racial profiling. However, words are not enough. For this reason, I ordered the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board (AZPOST) to develop training on the new law for Arizona’s police officers. AZPOST has completed the training course and has published it for the all world to see at www.azpost.state.az.us/SB1070infocenter.htm . AZPOST has done its job professionally and served Arizona well.
“I will not stop fighting to protect the citizens of Arizona, and to defend Arizonans in federal court. 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. Contributions to the Border Security and Immigration Defense Fund can be made at www.keepazsafe.com . My legal team will not hesitate to assert the rights of the State of Arizona in this matter. 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.”
July 6th, 2010 on 4:24 pm
You’re exactly right, Democracy. The rest of America and the rest of the world have shunned and isolated Arizona for these racist and hateful laws. It is high time that the Constitution was upheld, and the Obama Administration worked to overturn these racist laws and end the White Supremacist movement that is destroying our state.
July 6th, 2010 on 5:45 pm
Dear Governor Brewer:
Two hundred million Americans citizens of our nation are behind you one hundred percent.
Be courageous and represent us in our hour of need for the Federal Government has abdicated our Constitution and abandoned we the people. Bring rule of law back to our land, not rule of men!
July 6th, 2010 on 6:06 pm
The Constitution is being trampled upon, right in front of our eyes, and this is a good first step toward putting an end to the White Supremacists who are utterly destroying our state.
July 6th, 2010 on 3:56 pm
Two hundred million Americans citizens of our nation are behind you one hundred percent.
Be courageous and represent us in our hour of need for the Federal Government has abdicated our Constitution and abandoned we the people. Bring rule of law back to our land, not rule of men!
July 6th, 2010 on 3:22 pm
Jan Brewer claims she has read the law and it is kinda sorta like the Federal Law there fore we all should like it. Reading it and understanding it are two different things.
Brewers race would be dead in the water had she not beat the drums of hate. If hate and fear causes your poll numbers to rise, Jan Brewer is all over it. When you cater to the FOX News Media Mindset they eat up this crap and haters win elections. Arizona Republicans working hard to make hate fun again!
July 6th, 2010 on 3:34 pm
Looks like you haven’t read either the Federal or the Arizona law. Your ignorance shine almost as brightly as the slavish vilifying of Fox News, second only to CNN in respected news coverage, and for playing the Hate card where none exists.
July 6th, 2010 on 3:54 pm
I have read it. What part of racial profiling is illegal don’t you understand?
July 6th, 2010 on 5:23 pm
If you had really read it you’d know that, unlike the more severe Federal law, the Arizona law specifically forbids racial profiling. If you actually had read AND comprehended Brewer’s letter you’d understand that racial profiling has nothing to do with the Federal suit, either. You are blowing smoke and it’s really obvious.