The ability of states and localities to take immigration policy into their own hands without stepping within the jurisdiction of the federal government is questionable. Arizona’s new law requiring state and local police to arrest undocumented immigrants already has at least 4 court challenges.
There may be another one soon. The Right Scoop broke the story that while Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was being interviewed on Ecuador’s NTN24, she leaked news that the Justice Department is planning to sue Arizona regarding SB 1070. The Obama administration wouldn’t confirm this, but Clinton says it plain and simple. Watch below:
QUESTION: I would like to start with the immigration debate in the United States. The recently approved law in Arizona has presented sort of a difficult scenario for the President Obama Administration. According to some polling, half of the United States has approved this law and maybe other states would like to implement it. How’s Obama Administration dealing with this debate? Is the immigration law near reality?
SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, Andrea, first, let me say how pleased I am that I have this chance to talk to you about these and other important issues. President Obama has spoken out against the law because he thinks that the federal government should be determining immigration policy. And the Justice Department, under his direction, will be bringing a lawsuit against the act.
But the more important commitment that President Obama has made is to try to introduce and pass comprehensive immigration reform. That is what we need. Everyone knows it, and the President is committed to doing it.
Obviously, that ticked off Arizona Governor Jan Brewer. She issued this statement in response:
“This is no way to treat the people of Arizona,” said Governor Brewer. “To learn of this lawsuit through an Ecuadorean interview with the Secretary of State is just outrageous.
If our own government intends to sue our state to prevent illegal immigration enforcement, the least it can do is inform us before it informs the citizens of another nation.”
Governor Brewer said, “I just visited with the President in the Oval Office about our differences over immigration policy, and the one firm understanding we had was that within two weeks he would provide details of his commitment to deploy National Guard troops to the border. While I am grateful that communications have taken place about a possible visit by Administration staff before the end of the month, there is not yet a confirmed date. More importantly, no information about additional troop and border security enhancements has been provided by the Obama Administration to the citizens of Arizona.”
