Thread: CA. Rep. Bilbray To File Brief Against Obama AZ. Lawsuit

Bilbray gathers support for Arizona immigration law

Lawmaker plans to file brief criticizing Obama lawsuit against state

By EDWARD SIFUENTES - esifuentes@nctimes.com
July 16, 2010 7:39 pm

Rep. Brian Bilbray, R-Solana Beach, said Friday that he and a group of lawmakers plan to file a court brief in opposition to the Obama administration's legal challenge of Arizona's controversial new immigration law.

Bilbray, who leads the GOP-dominated Immigration Reform Caucus, said the group will file an amicus brief, also known as a friend-of-the-court brief, calling the federal government's lawsuit "frivolous."

"This lawsuit highlights the fact that the federal government has failed to enforce our immigration laws," Bilbray said. "The White House continues to hold our nation hostage by ignoring bipartisan support for common-sense legislation."

The immigration law, known as SB 1070, would require authorities to check the immigration status of those stopped or arrested, if police suspect they're in the U.S. illegally and if it's feasible to do so.

The Justice Department filed a lawsuit earlier this month to block the Arizona law, which would go into effect July 29, arguing that the law interferes with federal authority on immigration.

U.S. District Court Judge Susan Bolton in Phoenix heard oral arguments Thursday on one of the seven lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of the law. Bolton is expected to hear arguments on several of the cases next week, including the one brought by the Obama administration.

Bilbray said Friday the Immigration Reform Caucus will file a brief next week to support Arizona's right to enforce its law. He added the law does not pre-empt federal immigration laws; it only seeks to enforce them.

Critics of the Arizona law disagreed and said Bilbray's move was to be expected.

"It comes as no surprise," said Pedro Rios, San Diego director of the human rights group American Friends Service Committee. "Brian Bilbray has always pushed for anti-immigrant legislation at the local, state and federal level."

Rios said he disagreed with Bilbray's claim that the federal government failed to enforce immigration laws. He and other immigrant rights advocates say the federal government is spending more than ever on immigration enforcement.

Arizona overstepped its authority by passing the immigration law, said David Blair-Loy, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of San Diego and Imperial Counties.

"Whether you think the federal government is doing its job or not is beside the point," Blair-Loy said. "The state of Arizona trespassed into the legal prerogative of the federal government. ... Arizona doesn't get to play in the immigration sandbox."

Call staff writer Edward Sifuentes at 760-740-3511.

http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/sdcou ... 6284b.html

Illegal immigration is no "play"ground "sandbox", Blair-Loy, you jerk wad. Hows about you plant your dierriere on the border for awhile and find out.

But, Thank You Brian Bilbray...

"CA. Rep. Bilbray To File Brief Against Obama AZ. Lawsuit"

Has any other state had any politician do this?

..the legal prerogative of the federal government

Oh yea, what perogative is that..whether to enforce our laws or not? BS!

Good

"It comes as no surprise," said Pedro Rios, San Diego director of the human rights group American Friends Service Committee. "Brian Bilbray has always pushed for anti-immigrant legislation at the local, state and federal level."

This isn't 'anti-immigrant,' it's 'anti-illegal immigrant.' BIG DIF!

Thank you again Congressman Bilbray for being on the side of our laws.

yes they have JohnDoe2

Richmond, Va. --
Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli joined eight other states today in support of Arizona's new immigration law.

The amicus brief, filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona, defends Arizona's and all states' authority to enforce federal immigration laws along with the federal government. This is particularly true because of the selective and lack of enforcement by the federal government, the brief states.

"While much of border enforcement is left to the federal government, federal law expressly allows states to arrest people who are not legally present in the United States," Cuccinelli said in a statement.

"Arizona's law doesn't change any of this. That's why we are stunned that the government has sued Arizona."

The Arizona, set to take effect July 29, requires officers, while enforcing other laws, to question a person's immigration status if there's a reasonable suspicion that the person is in the country illegally.

It also makes it a crime for legal immigrants not to carry documentation of their status in the U.S.

The Obama administration has filed suit against the Arizona law, contending that federal law pre-empts the Arizona statute. It seeks an injunction against its enforcement.

Cuccinelli files brief backing Arizona vs. U.S
http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/virg ... ar-291747/

thanks, but this is just another political play it carries no weight with the Judge!

Originally Posted by JohnDoe2

"CA. Rep. Bilbray To File Brief Against Obama AZ. Lawsuit"

Has any other state had any politician do this?

Nine states file brief supporting Arizona immigration law
Jul 15, 2010 5:35 PM


ShareThis On Wednesday, Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox filed an amicus brief, which includes eight other states, in federal court supporting Arizona's recently passed immigration law against a lawsuit filed by the Obama administration that seeks to overturn the law. Also, the Washington-based National League of Cities (NLC) has passed a resolution renewing its call for comprehensive immigration reform.

Florida, Alabama, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia and the U.S. territory of the Northern Mariana Islands joined the Michigan brief, which argues that states have the right to pass laws like Arizona's. The Arizona law allows law enforcement officers to question the immigration status of people they have a "reasonable suspicion" are in the country illegally. "Arizona, Michigan and every other state have the authority to enforce immigration laws, and it is appalling to see President Obama use taxpayer dollars to stop a state's efforts to protect its own borders," Cox said in a statement. "My mother was a legal immigrant who faithfully carried her green card with her for years before gaining citizenship — it certainly is not too much to ask legal immigrants to do the same today."

On July 6, 2010, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder filed a lawsuit against Arizona and the state's governor, Jan Brewer, on behalf of Obama to stop implementation of the state's new immigration law. In its suit, the Obama administration alleges that Arizona's law is preempted by federal law and seeks an injunction preventing its enforcement. "Arizonans are understandably frustrated with illegal immigration, and the federal government has a responsibility to comprehensively address those concerns," Holder said in a statement on his website. "Setting immigration policy and enforcing immigration laws is a national responsibility. Seeking to address the issue through a patchwork of state laws will only create more problems than it solves."

The amicus brief, filed in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona, defends the states' authority to concurrently enforce federal immigration laws. "Under the current situation, the states have lost control over their borders and are left to guess at the reality of the law," said a statement on Cox's website.

At the conclusion of its summer meeting in Riverside, Calif., held July 8-10, NLC's Board of Directors voiced its opposition to the Arizona law and renewed its call for Congress and the Obama administration to act immediately to enact comprehensive immigration reform. "It is important the nation adopt an immigration policy that advances the highest and best interests of all residents," NLC President and Riverside Mayor Ronald Loveridge said in a statement. "Immigration has supported our nation over many decades and has been a source for economic growth and innovation for our cities and the nation. The debate over the Arizona law underscores the urgent need to move forward now with comprehensive reform at the federal level."

In its resolution, NLC says comprehensive immigration reform legislation should provide greater border security and enforcement; recognize the human and civil rights of both citizens and non-citizens; strengthen penalties against employers who knowingly employ undocumented workers; create a program for the admission of temporary workers based upon the needs of the economy and which would, over time, qualify the workers for legal permanent residency; provide adequate fiscal support for city and state governments that are shouldering the costs of the current immigration system; and establish a process whereby the 12 million undocumented immigrants currently living in the United States may earn legalized status through payment of appropriate fees and back taxes, background checks, absence of criminal or gang activity, consistent work history, meeting English and civics requirements, and "waiting their place in line."

Read Cox's entire statement on the Michigan amicus brief, and read Holder's statement on filing the federal lawsuit. Also, download NLC's Comprehensive Immigration Reform Resolution, which is on p. 10 of a document containing other resolutions.

http://americancityandcounty.com/admin/ ... -20100715/