US government sues Arizona over anti-immigration law

[Italian Outsider]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100706/pl_afp/usimmigrationpoliticsarizona_20100706202001

WASHINGTON (AFP) – The US government on Tuesday filed a lawsuit against Arizona for a controversial immigration law which has been sharply criticized by America's neighbors and by the US administration.

A Justice Department statement said it was challenging the new state law in the courts because it hampered the authority of the administration of President Barack Obama to enforce national immigration policy.

It also placed significant "burdens" on federal agencies and law enforcement, the department argued.

Federal laws do not permit the development of a "patchwork of state and local immigration policies," it said.

"Setting immigration policy and enforcing immigration laws is a national responsibility," US Attorney General Eric Holder said in the statement.

Arizona, the Justice Department said, "crossed a constitutional line."

The Arizona law, due to take effect on July 29, makes it a crime to be in the state, which borders Mexico, without proper immigration papers and requires local police, who are not federal agents responsible for immigration matters, to determine if people are in the country legally.

US officials said they took the action after consulting with various law enforcement departments, chiefs of police, civil rights groups and other local officials.

Many said they were concerned the law would make victims of crimes or witnesses "less likely to contact or cooperate with law enforcement" if they did not possess proper legal papers.

Officials in Arizona argue they have been overrun by illegal immigrants leading to a spike in the crime rate and straining state resources. They say the measure was necessary only because of lax federal government enforcement of the southern US border.

"Arizonans are understandably frustrated with illegal immigration, and the federal government has a responsibility to comprehensively address those concerns," Holder said.

However, he added, "diverting federal resources away from dangerous aliens such as terrorism suspects and aliens with criminal records will impact the entire country's safety."

Meanwhile, Arizona's two US senators issued a joint statement slamming the lawsuit.

"The American people must wonder whether the Obama administration is really committed to securing the border when it sues a state that is simply trying to protect its people by enforcing immigration law," Republicans John McCain and Jon Kyl said in a joint statement.

More than 60 percent of the US population supports Arizona's new immigration law, according to a recent opinion survey.

About 30 percent of Arizona's population of 6.6 million are Hispanic, one third of whom are foreign born, including 460,000 illegal immigrants.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said in the statement that her staff was "actively working with members of Congress from both parties to comprehensively reform our immigration system at the federal level because this challenge cannot be solved by a patchwork of inconsistent state laws, of which (Arizona's) is one."

Obama on July 1 renewed his called for Republicans to back immigration reform to bring 11 million illegal immigrants out of the shadows, but his political foes quickly accused him of "political pandering" four months ahead of key legislative elections.

Hola, Estados Unidos

 

[Wrestling Station]

welcome to the American Dream ladies and gentlemen!

 

[Axis]

First time I've fully believed it: fuck Barack Obama.

 

[Italian Outsider]

First time I've fully believed it: fuck Barack Obama.

You don't want more Hispanic buddies?

 

[Axis]

I don't want an overreach of federal power stemming from the fact that they can't even enforce their own federal laws.

 

[Quintastic One]

The government NEVER is able to come together in order to pass any sort of legislation that provides significant enforcement or change to what is already going on in this country. So you want to stop Arizona's anti-immigration law, so that the government can continue to do absolutely NOTHING about the immigration problem?

So essentially the U.S. government is telling us "We're not going to fix your problems, and no, you're not allowed to fix them yourself, that's unconstitutional".

I'll tell you what's unconstitutional, big government becoming so large and powerful that they can prevent individual states rights to handle their own problems on a state by state basis, essentially FORCING the American people to rely on government for every little thing we need. That's forced socialism, and if you think that's a bit of a stretch, then tell me why nothing is ever allowed to change unless Uncle Sam makes all the decisions for us?

 

[Quintastic One]

And another thing, what exactly is suing Arizona going to do? Isn't that basically the government just giving itself money since the States are already dependent on all their monetary needs from federal funding in the first place?

Oh I get it, they just want to stop the Immigration Law, and whatever monetary reward they get out of it is just going to be used to cram Arizona further and further into the never ending sink hole of employment & zero cash funds that they already have in their depression era economy.

So much for Obama not holding a grudge against McCain just for running against him for the President. He wants to kill off McCains entire state.

 

[Italian Outsider]

The government NEVER is able to come together in order to pass any sort of legislation that provides significant enforcement or change to what is already going on in this country. So you want to stop Arizona's anti-immigration law, so that the government can continue to do absolutely NOTHING about the immigration problem?

So essentially the U.S. government is telling us "We're not going to fix your problems, and no, you're not allowed to fix them yourself, that's unconstitutional".

I'll tell you what's unconstitutional, big government becoming so large and powerful that they can prevent individual states rights to handle their own problems on a state by state basis, essentially FORCING the American people to rely on government for every little thing we need. That's forced socialism, and if you think that's a bit of a stretch, then tell me why nothing is ever allowed to change unless Uncle Sam makes all the decisions for us?

You understand now one reason that makes me dislike your country, add that the government is paralyzed by lobbies and political correctness, add those who would like to reproduce the same system here under the pressure of US politicians or just by genuine idiocy, add the imperialistic American international policy and you have my ''USA sucks stance''.

 

[Quintastic One]

As you can see, I'm obviously beginning to garner the same frustration and disgust with my own countries way of operating. No conspiracy theories, just cold hard fact that my government is incompetent.

 

[Italian Outsider]

You are lucky though that Hispanics aren't half as bad as Muslims or African immigrants.

 

[His Highness C4]

You are lucky though that Hispanics aren't half as bad as Muslims or African immigrants.

We put the 'C' in Convenience stores bro.

 

[Mike Chaos]

http://www.allvoices.com/contribute...ates-11th-amendment-of-bill-of-rights-treason

 

[Oceanlover]

Amazing no one can see Obama is a Muslim...
Oh and has anyone heard of North American Union?

 

[Italian Outsider]

Lol, conspiracy theories.

 

[Doomsday]

I think Immigration needs a fix now.
Either let everybody go anywhere..... or nobody goes nowhere.

Either way I'm happy

http://www.allvoices.com/contribute...ates-11th-amendment-of-bill-of-rights-treason

Holy shit.........