Arizona State Senate

      1700 W. Washington St., Phoenix, AZ  85007

Sen. Russell Pearce, R-18
Chair, Senate Appropriations Committee
602-926-5760

NEWS RELEASE

 July 28, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                

Sen. Pearce: Number One Priority of SB 1070 Upheld

                          Political handcuffs coming off at midnight tonight

 

(STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX) – At midnight tonight, sanctuary policies by cities and towns in the State of Arizona will be illegal, according to a ruling today by U.S. District Court Judge Susan Bolton. The ruling is a key victory for the State, in its efforts to enforce federal laws against illegal immigration.

 

“Striking down these sanctuary city policies has always been the number one priority of SB 1070,” says chief sponsor Sen. Russell Pearce of Mesa. ”Judge Bolton has made it clear. These policies are illegal, and cities in violation will face significant fines immediately. The political handcuffs are coming off law enforcement.”

 

Sen. Pearce is also confident the portions of the law that Judge Bolton temporarily blocked will be successfully appealed.

 

“With past rulings supporting Arizona’s employer sanctions law, the courts have made it clear states have the inherent power to enforce the laws of this country. I am confident that the courts will back the provisions in SB 1070 temporarily blocked by Judge Bolton,” said Sen. Pearce, a longtime champion of legislation protecting Arizonans against illegal aliens. 

 

Judge Bolton’s ruling also leaves in place several other key elements of SB 1070, including the establishment of a state crime making it illegal to transport or harbor an illegal alien, making it a crime to stop in traffic to hire a day laborer, and allowing Arizona residents to file suit against any agency, official, city or county for adopting policies restricting enforcement of federal immigration law.   

 

“The Obama administration’s effort to maintain its non-enforcement policy of illegal immigration laws and its support of sanctuary cities has failed. Arizona will enforce those laws,” says Sen. Pearce.

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For more information contact:

Mike Philipsen, Communications Advisor

Arizona Senate Republican Caucus

Office: (602) 926-3972, e-mail: mphilipsen@azleg.gov