The bipartisan Immigration Reform Caucus, 76 members of the House of Representatives and five U.S. Senators have waded into the lawsuit by the Obama administration in U.S. vs. Arizona in support of Arizona.
Chairman of the Immigration Reform Caucus Congressman Brian Bilbray (R-Calif.), Congressman Trent Franks (R-Ariz.) and Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas) have filed an Amicus Curiae, or Friend of the Court Brief, with the United States District Court in Arizona opposing the Obama administration lawsuit against Arizona’s immigration enforcement law.
The Congressional amicus brief asserts that Congress has plenary power over immigration and the Obama administration claims that SB 1070 - Arizona’s beleaguered immigration enforcement law - preempt federal laws are without merit.
From House Immigration Reform Caucus Chairman Bilbray:
"Arizona has every right to defend itself against illegal immigration," Bilbray said. "The federal government has failed to live up to its responsibility to enforce federal law concerning immigration, and Arizona's law does not preempt federal statutes. It is time to stop playing politics, roll up our sleeves and get to work on a bipartisan immigration bill that addresses America's border security, goes after employers who exploit illegal immigrants and reduces identity theft."
"I stand by my claim: the bipartisan Immigration Reform Caucus is ready and willing to meet with President Obama to address bipartisan and meaningful immigration reform," Bilbray added.
From Rep. Franks:
"President Obama is going to end up having to sue several states, including Rhode Island and others, if the Administration wants to sue everyone who tries to enforce immigration law. This is in addition to the numerous other states who have either introduced legislation similar to Arizona's (such as Michigan, South Carolina, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania,) and as many as 15 others have expressed a desire to pass a law similar to SB 1070,” Franks said. “Furthermore, the Administration's lawsuit is politically disastrous, since more than 55% of Americans disagree with the lawsuit. The American people want an effective, enforced federal immigration policy and secure borders. The last thing this ridiculous lawsuit is doing is making our laws more clear or our border more secure, and President Obama must continue to hear that the Members who signed this brief, along with the American people, strongly oppose the ongoing politicization of this serious national security and federal immigration issue."
From Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Smith:
"The Obama administration is wrong to sue the State of Arizona. The Arizona law is favored by a majority of Arizonans and Americans. Also the Arizona law mirrors federal law and is only necessary because the Obama administration has failed to do its job," Smith said. "Instead of suing Arizona, the Obama administration should stand up for citizens and legal immigrants, enforce our immigration laws and secure the border."
The Congressional amicus brief is posted here at the House Judiciary Republicans’ website.
The following Members of the House and Senate have signed onto the brief:
1) Congressman Trent Franks
2) Congressman Brian Bilbray
3) Congressman John Campbell
4) Congressman Gary Miller
5) Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn
6) Congresswoman Michele Bachmann
7) Congressman Duncan Hunter
8) Congressman Bill Posey
9) Congressman Ted Poe
10) Congressman Howard Coble
11) Congressman Todd Tiahrt
12) Congressman Rodney Alexander
13) Congressman John Sullivan
14) Congresswoman Virginia Foxx
15) Congressman John Fleming
16) Congressman Jerry Moran
17) Congressman Steve King
18) Congresswoman Sue Myrick
19) Congressman John Duncan
20) Congressman Jeff Miller
21) Congressman Mike Simpson
22) Congressman Scott Garrett
23) Congressman Mike Coffman
24) Congressman Jim Jordan
25) Congressman Thaddeus McCotter
26) Congressman Walter Jones
27) Congressman Paul Broun
28) Congressman John Culberson
29) Congressman John Boozman
30) Congressman Ed Royce
31) Congressman Jack Kingston
32) Congressman J. Gresham Barrett
33) Congressman Pete Hoekstra
34) Congressman John Carter
35) Congressman Tom McClintock
36) Congressman Ed Whitfield
37) Congressman Patrick McHenry
38) Congresswoman Jean Schmidt
39) Congressman Robert Aderholt
40) Congressman John Kline
41) Congressman Phil Gingrey
42) Congressman Joe Pitts
43) Congresswoman Cynthia Lummis
44) Congressman John Shadegg
45) Congressman Michael Burgess
46) Congressman Spencer Bachus
47) Congressman Lamar Smith
48) Congressman Kevin Brady
49) Congressman Todd Platts
50) Congressman Jason Chaffetz
51) Congressman Robert Latta
52) Congressman Phil Roe
53) Congressman Mike Rogers
54) Congressman Rob Wittman
55) Congressman Dana Rohrabacher
56) Congressman Elton Gallegly
57) Congresswoman Ginny Brown-Waite
58) Congressman Louie Gohmert
59) Congressman Wally Herger
60) Congressman Gene Taylor
61) Congressman Geoff Davis
62) Congressman Tom Graves
63) Congressman Tom Price
64) Congressman Cliff Stearns
65) Congressman Jerry Lewis
66) Congressman Gus Bilirakis
67) Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins
68) Congressman Tim Murphy
69) Congressman Randy Neugebauer
70) Congressman Doug Lamborn
71) Congressman Bob Goodlatte
72) Congressman Ken Calvert
73) Congressman Michael McCaul
74) Congressman David Dreier
75) Congressman Rob Bishop
76) Congressman J. Randy Forbes
77) Senator Roger Wicker
78) Senator Jim DeMint
79) Senator David Vitter
80) Senator James Inhofe
81) Senator John Barrasso
