Gov. Jan Brewer and state Attorney General Tom Horne announced on Thursday that Arizona filed another lawsuit against the federal government.
Brewer said the state is filing suit because of the federal government’s failure to secure the U.S.-Mexico border at Arizona.
Horne said Arizona is trying to get the federal government to “”do its job.””
The lawsuit is, largely, a response to a suit filed last year. The federal government sued to block several provisions of S.B. 1070 from taking effect, specifically a clause that would compel law enforcement officials to inquire about the citizenship status of a person they have detained.
Sen. Russell Pearce, the president of the state Senate, retired the “”1070″” designation earlier this year to acknowledge the “”national and international implications”” of the legislation.
UA President Robert Shelton released a statement on S.B. 1070 last April, in which he said fear of being questioned on immigration status is “”a concern and fear that no one should have.””
Shelton also said he was concerned about how the legislation could affect potential applicants and current UA students.
“”We have already begun to feel an impact from SB 1070,”” Shelton wrote. “”The families of a number of out-of-state students, to date all of them honors students, have told us that they are changing their plans and will be sending their children to universities in other states. This should sadden anyone who cares about attracting the best and brightest students to Arizona.””
Jennifer Allen, the executive director of the Border Action Network, released a statement in which she said both Horne and Brewer are not addressing the priorities of the citizens of Arizona.
“”Governor Brewer and Attorney General Horne demonstrate their limited understanding of the Arizona border and their disconnect from the priorities of Arizonans,”” Allen wrote.
Allen also accused Brewer and Horne of misappropriating the immigration issue to distract from the state’s budget woes.
“”Governor Brewer and Tom Horne must stop using political stunts to distract from the economic mess in our state. Business and tourism are still reeling SB1070’s shame,”” Allen wrote. “”We need and expect our state’s top officials to face the real challenges and priorities for Arizonans, and stop wasting our time and taxpayer money with distractions and grandstanding.””
U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton blocked several provisions of the law from going into effect last July, and wrote in her decision that such immigration legislation is under the jurisdiction of the federal government, not the state government. That case is currently before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which has yet to hand down a ruling.
