Comments on US lawsuit against Arizona law

By The Associated Press

Comments by advocacy groups, elected officials and others regarding the U.S. Department of Justice's filing of a lawsuit challenging Arizona's immigration enforcement law:

`` As a direct result of failed and inconsistent federal enforcement, Arizona is under attack from violent Mexican drug and immigrant smuggling cartels. Now, Arizona is under attack in federal court from President Obama and his Department of Justice.'' _ Gov. Jan Brewer.

``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. `` _ U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder.

``The Obama Administration has not done everything it can do to protect the people of Arizona from the violence and crime illegal immigration brings to our state. Until it does, the federal government should not be suing Arizona on the grounds that immigration enforcement is solely a federal responsibility.'' _ U.S. Sens. Jon Kyl and John McCain, R-Ariz.

``It is disappointing to see the federal government choosing to intervene in a state statute instead of working with Arizona to create sustainable solutions to the illegal immigration issue that our state and country so desperately need.'' _ Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard.

``Gov. Jan Brewer cannot be permitted to pervert federal policy priorities and obstruct national progress all in the name of political pandering.'' _ Thomas A. Saenz, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund president and general council.

``It's just so outrageous. it's just an absolute insult to the rule of law.'' _ Sen. Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, the legislation's chief sponsor.

``Arizona's new law will likely spawn a patchwork of new immigration laws around the country. This isn't an optimal approach. However, the response cannot be a patchwork of federal challenges _ it needs to be comprehensive immigration reform.'' _ U.S. Rep. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz.

``The impact of illegal immigration on Arizona's well-being cannot be denied. But to require local police to act as immigration agents when a lack of local resources already makes enforcing criminal laws and ordinances a challenging proposition, is not realistic. `` _ Tucson Police Chief Roberto Villasenor.

``This lawsuit is a sideshow, distracting us from the real task at hand. `` _ U.S. Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, D-Ariz.

``Mexico expresses its approval of the decision by the United States government to seek to block the implementation of the SB1070 law. The Mexican government repeats that it recognizes the sovereign right of all countries to adopt laws and public policies within their territories. But when a measure like SB1070 potentially affects the civil and human rights of thousands of Mexicans, the Mexican government has an obligation to protect the rights and dignity of its compatriots.'' _ Mexico's Foreign Relations Department.

`` Our country needs a federal solution to this problem, not a chaotic hodgepodge of 50 different state immigration policies.'' _ U.S. Rep. Nydia Velazquez, D-N.Y., Congressional Hispanic Caucus chairwoman.

``For President Obama to stand in the way of a state which has taken action to stand up for its citizens against this daily threat of violence and fear is disgraceful and a betrayal of his Constitutional obligation to protect our citizens. `` _ U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform ranking minority member.

``This is exactly the right time for our federal government to send a message about the importance of fairness and equality under the law.'' _ U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz.

``While the president acknowledged last week that Arizonans are justifiably fed up with inaction, filing a lawsuit is counterproductive to his statements of appealing to the American people's highest ideals to create a sensible and workable immigration policy. Arizonans are tired of the grandstanding. Political posturing on this issue has to end.'' _ U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell, D-Ariz.

``The administration's lawsuit is a cannon shot across the bow of other states that may be tempted to follow Arizona's misguided approach. ``_ Lucas Guttentag, ACLU Immigrants' Rights Project director.

``If the president wants to make real progress on this issue, he can do so by taking amnesty off the table and focus his efforts on border and interior security.'' _ U.S. Sen. Mitchell McConnell, R-Ky., Senate minority leader.

``What the state of Arizona is attempting to do is bring us back to an era of state's rights by superseding strong federal government in areas that are clearly under the purview of the federal government.'' _ the Rev. Al Sharpton, National Action Network president.

``Instead of spending taxpayer funds to challenge Arizona's constitutional right to protect its borders and its citizens, the Obama administration should secure Arizona's borders and the borders of other states.'' _ Washington-based American Center for Law and Justice.

``The people Jan Brewer calls 'illegal' will one day be citizens of this country, they will become leaders of Arizona, and they will have succeeded in strengthening the Union and defending our Constitution along their path._ Pablo Alvarado, National Day Laborer Organizing Network director.

``This lawsuit represents so much more than the Administration versus Arizona's SB 1070. This lawsuit represents the defense of the Constitution and everything it stands for, its principles, its values and what this country was founded on.'' _ Lydia Guzman, president of pro-immigrant Somos America.

``Why isn't the federal government asking for our help instead of suing the state?'' _ Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

``I have no doubt that the DOJ will be on the winning side of history.'' _ Maricopa County Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox.