Justice Department Plans to Sue Over Arizona Law

Very interesting and very relevant. To start off with the motivation for the Obama Administration's lawsuit against Arizona is purely political and not constitutional as they claim. Many cities and states, including, actively do not cooperate with the Federal Government in the enforcement of immigration laws and Arizona (for good or for bad) seeks to enforce those laws, yet the former do not draw the ire of the federal government. In fact, being cognisant that SB1070 would be challenged by the courts, its authors were careful that it would mirror already existing federal laws. The failure of Obama to meet with Governor Jan Brewer before his administration announced the impending law is further evidence of its political motivation.

I predict that this lawsuit will spur the Obama Administration to push for comprehensive immigration reform and shift public opinion against him. First and foremost, even those who are not supportive of SB1070 are sympathetic with Arizona's plight as a border state. Secondly, many Americans are not comfortable with the increased centralization of power. Those who are well versed in American history are aware that state and local governments were considered by many to be the "laboratory of democracy." In other words, the citizens of communities could work together to put together laws and solutions to address their unique social and economic ills. Together they would bear the costs and benefits of their policies and other communities could learn from their successes and failures.

In regards to Arizona, my advise is to wait and see what the outcome of their controversial policies will be. Will they impose heavy economic and social costs on the people of Arizona as its detractors predict? Or will they help Arizona address the challenges posed by massive undocumented immigration until the Federal Government is willing or able to do so? And will this be "Obama's Last Stand" which will hasten his rapid decline in popularity? We shall see.



Official: Justice Department plans to sue over Arizona law


By Terry Frieden,

CNN Justice Producer

June 18, 2010 4:52 p.m. EDT


(CNN) -- Obama administration lawyers are planning to file a legal challenge to a controversial Arizona immigration law within a month, according to a senior administration official.
The Justice Department would not confirm the claim, saying only that "The Justice Department is continuing to review the law."

Federal government lawyers who have been working on the expected challenge for several weeks will most likely file their arguments in federal court in Phoenix in the days leading up to July 28, when the statute is scheduled to take effect, the official said.

Although the Justice Department indicates no final decisions have been made at this point, officials were put on the spot when Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in a recent television interview in Ecuador the government "will be bringing a lawsuit" in the case.

Administration officials have indicated the question of Arizona usurping federal authority to control the border and enforce immigration law is the most likely federal point of attack against the state law signed by Gov. Jan Brewer earlier this year.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/06/18/us.arizona.immigration.law/index.html?iref=allsearch