Obama's War Against Arizona

Obama's War Against Arizona
Russell Pearce
9-16-10

The Obama administration’s jihad against Arizona continues to rage. Most recently, it included SB 1070 (Arizona’s new immigration law) in a report to the United Nations on human rights abuses.

The law, which is supported by an overwhelming majority of all Americans, went into effect a month ago. The new law is included in a 29 page report to the UN Human Rights Council, and highlights steps the Federal Government says it is taking to uphold human rights in the United States. According to the report:

“A recent Arizona law, SB 1070, has generated significant attention and debate at home and around the world. The issue is being addressed in a court action that argues that the federal government has the authority to set and enforce immigration law. That action is ongoing; parts of the law are currently enjoined.”

I didn’t think it could get any worse than the Obama administration suing a sovereign state for simply enforcing federal immigration law—indeed, for simply defending its citizens—but it has. President Obama has decided to have the United Nations review the law of Arizona. You have got to be kidding! We’re now going to have countries like Cuba, Libya and Uganda sitting in judgment on Arizona’s laws? Enough is enough!

But that’s not all. Obama’s Justice Department has also targeted Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Sheriff Joe bills himself as America’s Toughest Sheriff for good reason. Maricopa County is responsible for one out of every four deportations in the country. That says a great deal about the success of Sheriff Joe’s policies, but also about the failure of the Obama administration to enforce our immigration laws.

Sheriff Joe’s crack down on illegal immigration led the Mexican Drug Cartels to put a one million dollar bounty on his head last month.

When the sheriff of America’s fourth largest county is threatened by foreign enemies, you would think that the president would assist him. Instead, Obama is siding with the cartels. While they are sending their guns against Sheriff Joe, Obama is sending his lawyers.

Weeks after assuming office, Obama initiated an investigation against Sheriff Joe for "national origin discrimination, including failure to provide meaningful access to MCSO services for limited English proficient individuals.”

Shortly after investigation began, Obama’s buddies at the Arizona Republic found that 68% of those arrested in his sweeps against illegal aliens were Hispanic, and touted it as proof of racial profiling. Yet according to the Pew Hispanic Center, over 90% of illegal aliens in Arizona are from Mexico alone. I guess math isn’t their thing, or the truth!

Sheriff Joe is not racially profiling, he is simply enforcing the law.

This is not the first time that the Obama administration has gone after Sheriff Joe. Last year, the Department of Homeland Security revoked most of his 287(g) powers. The truth is though that he does not need no ‘stinkin’ 287(g). Section 287(g) merely grants post-arrest authority, not the authority to make an arrest.

Congress has firmly established that there is a significant public interest in the effective enforcement of immigration law. Congress could have chosen to limit local enforcement pursuant to its plenary power over immigration, but it has not done so. In the absence of a limitation on local enforcement powers, the states are bound by the Supremacy Clause of the United States Constitution to enforce violations of the federal immigration laws.

States do not need a 287(g), IGA, MOU or a permission slip to arrest illegal aliens. They have inherent authority to enforce all immigration laws.

Americans need to wake up! Obama’s assault on SB 1070 and Sheriff Joe has absolutely nothing to do with the constitution, civil rights, or even the relationship between federal vs. state authority on immigration.

It is about Obama’s refusal to enforce our immigration laws. He won’t let the federal government enforce the law. And if a state tries to pick up their slack and protect its citizens, he sues them.

This is the Obama’s Civil Rights Division of 145 million dollars and 399 attorneys attacking Arizona and its citizens. This is a battle of epic proportions. They have the support of highly funded left wing open borders legal advocacy groups like the ACLU and the Mexican American Legal Defense Fund. Bring it on!!

I have news for Obama. The people of Arizona are stronger in their resolve than ever. The more he attacks Arizona, the more the rest of the country stands by us. We will fight him up to the Supreme Court if necessary, and we will win.

Patriotic Americans from across the country have donated millions of dollars to both Sheriff Joe and to the SB 1070 defense fund.

No matter how many lawyers and lawsuits Obama throws at Arizona, we will have the American People and the Constitution on our side.

Arizona State Senator Russell Pearce represents Arizona’s 18th Legislative District and cosponsored SB 1070.