Lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice against controversial Arizona immigration law

July 7, 2010

Washington, D.C. On Tuesday, July 6, the U.S. Justice Department filed a lawsuit against Arizona's new recent immigration law in federal appeals court in Arizona. The lawsuit was filed based on the claim that the new law is unconstitutional because the state has overstepped its boundaries, in regards to immigration policy, due to the federal government, under law, having sole authority in regulating immigration. The Obama administration also claims that the Arizona law could potentially divert important federal resources away from higher priority immigrants, such as those involved in terrorism, drug smuggling, or other criminal activity. The administration has also expressed worries about creating an international incident by undue harassment of lawful visitors from other countries. Though the law specifically prohibits profiling, many critics believe that the law will lead to racial profiling of the Latino community because of the disproportionate amount of immigrants from Mexico and Central America.

Attorney General Eric Holder said this, in relation to the lawsuit, "Arizonans are understandably frustrated with illegal immigration, and the federal government has a responsibility to comprehensively address those concerns. But diverting federal resources away from dangerous aliens such as terrorism suspects and aliens with criminal records will impact the entire country’s safety."

The law is set to take effect on July 29, 2010, but the Justice Department's lawsuit includes a motion that seeks to block it from taking effect as scheduled.