Ariz. Gov. Jan Brewer and Attorney General Tom Horne filed suit against the federal government due to its constitutional failure to secure the border and protect Arizona citizens against the negative effects of illegal immigration.
“Our message for the federal government is simple: Use federal resources to combat the cartels that are breaking federal law,” said Brewer. “Don’t attack Arizona, which is helping to enforce federal law.”
Arizona’s counterclaim is based on 5 points. The federal government has:
1. Failed to gain “operational control of the border,” as required under the Secure Fence Act of 2006.
2. Failed to enforce multiple federal immigration laws.
3. Failed to protect Arizona from economic harms and violence associated with illegal immigration, as mandated by the Constitution.
4. Been negligent in not reimbursing Arizona for more than $760 million in combined costs for the incarceration of illegal aliens under the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program.
5. Sought to pre-empt Arizona from its constitutional right and duty to protect the health, safety and welfare of its own citizens.
“While control of the border is a federal responsibility, illegal aliens who successfully cross the border and commit crime in Arizona become an Arizona responsibility,” said Horne. “By not doing its job, and using its alleged, “pre-emption” rights to stop Arizona from performing its law enforcement obligations, the United States is violating Arizona’s 10th Amendment rights.”
Pictured: Ariz. Gov. Jan Brewer and Attorney General Tom Horne have filed suit against the federal government due over its failure to secure the border and protect Arizona citizens against the negative effects of illegal immigration.