Arizona Defends Its Immigration Law

Gov. Jan Brewer said she was prepared to defend S.B. 1070, a controversial law aimed at curbing illegal immigration, all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. Brewer spoke at a news conference on Feb. 10 announcing five counterclaims against the federal government, which has attempted to block the full enactment of S.B. 1070. The first counterclaim cites failure to achieve and maintain operational control of Arizona’s border with Mexico, as called for in a trio of acts dating to 2006. Other counts include failure to protect Arizona from “invasion” and failure to enforce or follow immigration laws. José Robles, director of the Office of Hispanic Ministries for the Diocese of Phoenix, said the governor’s counterclaims were “poorly timed and counterproductive to efforts already in place to resolve this issue.” Robles also said Arizona has more pressing issues, most notably a budget deficit, high unemployment and “widespread human suffering.”