WASHINGTON – U.S. Congresswoman Candice Miller (MI-10), the lead Republican on the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border, Maritime and Global Counterterrorism, today made the following comments regarding the federal judge’s decision to prevent key provisions of Arizona’s immigration law from being enforced until the Obama Administration’s lawsuit against the state of Arizona has been adjudicated:
“I am deeply disappointed that a federal judge has chosen to weaken Arizona’s efforts to fully protect its own residents from the dire violent situation forming along our nation’s Southwest border. The Arizona legislature passed this law, the Governor signed it and the overwhelming majority of the people support it because they are fed up with federal inaction to secure our border and to enforce laws already on the books. This inaction creates a danger for the people of Arizona because of drug traffickers and human smugglers operating with impunity in some areas and immense costs placed on state and local governments because of the never ending stream of illegal immigrants. The people of Arizona have a right to defend themselves and this ruling makes that job more difficult.
“Arizona is on the front lines in the fight against illegal immigration and has simply sought to partner with the federal government to enforce existing federal laws. However, the Administration’s response was that such help would contradict federal immigration enforcement priorities, which many believe has been to ignore illegal aliens unless they commit very serious crimes. And the judge even unbelievably said that if Arizona were to enforce this law it would place to high a burden on the federal government because illegal aliens would actually have to be dealt with.
“We shouldn’t be surprised that many states are considering following Arizona’s lead when the Secretary of Homeland Security claims that our border is as secure as it has ever been and the Department of Justice argues that increased state assistance in enforcing current immigration law is inconsistent with federal priorities. At the same time the administration is silent toward sanctuary cities that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement efforts and open their arms to illegal aliens.
“The American people have had enough of the federal government’s inaction to secure the border and seeming acceptance of illegal immigration. I believe this decision is extremely misguided because the people of Arizona have a right to assist in the enforcement of federal law and the protection of their own community. Instead of fighting the people of Arizona in their efforts to assist with the growing illegal immigration problem, the federal government should be saying thank you. The federal government should also send more help to secure the Arizona border, including the United States military to stop violent drug gangs and human traffickers which have been causing havoc in that state.”
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