Reactions To Immigration Law Ruling

POSTED: 11:41 am MST July 28, 2010

UPDATED: 6:54 am MST July 29, 2010

PHOENIX -- Reactions were both stern and hopeful to Judge Sarah Bolton's striking down of controversial elements of Arizona's new immigration law. Here is a sampling:

The ruling is merely "a temporary bump in the road."
– Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer

"This fight is far from over. In fact, it is just the beginning, and at the end of what is certain to be a long legal struggle, Arizona will prevail in its right to protect our citizens.”
– Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer in her official statement to the press

"Judge Bolton's decision to largely eliminate a key tool in our fight against illegal immigration was wrong and must be vigorously appealed."
– Andrew Thomas, former Maricopa County Attorney and Republican candidate for Arizona Attorney General

"Jan Brewer played politics with immigration, and she lost. It is time to look beyond election year grandstanding and begin to repair the damage to Arizona's image and economy."
– Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard, Democrat

"We are deeply disappointed in the court's ruling today and disagree with the court's opinion that the Arizona's law will unduly 'burden' the enforcement of federal immigration law. Instead of wasting taxpayer resources filing a lawsuit against Arizona and complaining that the law would be burdensome, the Obama Administration should have focused its efforts on working with Congress to provide the necessary resources to support the state in its efforts to act where the Federal government has failed to take responsibility."
– Joint Statement by U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz.

"States can and do play a role in cooperating with the federal government in its enforcement of the immigration laws, but they must do so within our constitutional framework."
– Hannah August, spokeswoman, United States Department of Justice

"Today's ruling does not strike down SB1070. Her ruling only puts a hold on a few parts of the new law. That's why her actions today are called a preliminary injunction. Those who are here in this state illegally, my deputies will still ask about their status in this country and will arrest on existing state and federal immigration violations. State violators will be booked into my jail and federal violators will be turned over to authorities.”
– Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio

"The federal government refuses to secure the border and leaves it to states like Arizona to bear the costs of its inaction. Yet, when we try to do the job they won't do, in a manner consistent with federal law, they stop us. You couldn't make up something this ridiculous. ... It's a sad day in America when our own president has directed his attorney general to provide terrorist Miranda rights, yet fights to deny law enforcement the very tools needed to determine if an illegal is in America legally. Why has the President not come to Arizona to personally inspect the threat that our citizens face?"
– Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu

“ICE works everyday with local law enforcement across the country to assist them in making their communities safer and we will continue do so in Arizona. At the same time, we will continue to increase resources in Arizona by complementing the National Guard deployment set to begin on Aug. 1 with the deployment of hundreds of additional Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, Border Patrol agents and other law enforcement personnel that will aid in our continuing efforts to conduct outbound inspections, patrol challenging terrain, and interdict illicit smugglers.”
– Matt Chandler, deputy press secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland Security

"Today's ruling should not provide Washington any kind of excuse not to address the issue. Arizonans are justifiably fed up with the federal government's failure to secure the border and fix our broken immigration system, and are fed up with of all the political posturing and grandstanding on this issue.”
– U.S. Rep. Harry Mitchell, D-Ariz.

”State lawyers arguing with federal lawyers will not help us secure our border, fix our broken immigration system or improve safety for the ranchers of Cochise County, the seniors of Green Valley or the families of Tucson.Judge Bolton's ruling is an affirmation of the fact that the enforcement of our nation's immigration laws is the responsibility of federal government.”
– U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz.

"The implementation of these provisions would have seriously interfered with federal immigration enforcement causing irreparable harm to the people of Arizona. Under the Constitution, the federal government has the exclusive authority to set immigration policy."
– U.S. Rep. Ed Pastor, D-Ariz.

"Judge Bolton has gutted the Arizona law. She has put a hold on major sections of SB 1070 designed to eradicate sanctuary cities and require law enforcement officers to determine the immigration status of those who commit crimes in our state."
– J.D. Hayworth, Republican candidate for U.S. Senator from Arizona

“I am deeply disappointed today with the decision of the Court. The will of the people in our representative government should not be thwarted by activists Judges.”
– Jim Waring, Republican candidate for Congressional 3 and former state senator

"There are no winners here - no matter what the courts ultimately decide, we will still have wasted millions of dollars and our borders will still not be secure.”
– U.S. Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, D-Ariz.

“While the federal government claims that SB1070 interferes with its "enforcement priorities" it is the federal government's unwillingness to secure the border and enforce its own laws that have created the immigration crisis in Arizona. The Obama Administration's desire to selectively enforce federal immigration law is no legal reason to find fault with SB1070.”
– State Rep. Kirk Adams, R-Mesa, Speaker of the House

"The injunction of portions of SB 1070 will allow the country to refocus on comprehensive solutions to immigration instead of creating thousands of unworkable standards."
– Sen. Jorge Luis Garcia, D-Tucson, Senate Minority Leader

“A split decision only serves to split our communities. There is no partial solution to denials of our humanity. There is no partial solution to hatred. If this is a step, it is another step toward increased encroachments on the human rights of the people of Arizona and a dangerous precedent for the country.´
– Puente Movement and National Day Laborer Organizing Network

"Families will not have to be fearful, children can go to school, parents can go to work, and that is what America is all about.”
– Randy Parraz, D-Phoenix, candidate for U.S. Senator from Arizona

"Today, the courts leave our state defenseless against the violence and murders caused by illegal immigration. This is a travesty!"
– Jesse Kelly, Republican candidate for Arizona's 8th Congressional District

"As Bishops in our respective dioceses, we know that in practically every parish there are families that have been living with the fear and anxiety generated by SB 1070 that they might be torn apart. … Our hearts go out to these families. We know them to be good people who work hard and who contribute to the economy and to the quality of life of their communities.”
– Arizona Roman Catholic Bishops

"This is an issue of public safety that is of vital importance to Arizona, and I hope and believe Governor Brewer will immediately appeal to the 9th Circuit. ...Even if the injunction stands, we must argue the case on the merits and fight all the way to the Supreme Court, if necessary. It is essential that we uphold the Constitution and our rights under the 10th Amendment against this latest assault from the Obama Administration."
– Ben Quayle, Republican candidate for Congress in the 3rd District of Arizona

"The head of state is out there on national news scaring people, that’s wrong. I want a governor that’s going to go out there and be an ambassador for us, not scare people away from our state and especially businesses. We need to talk about bringing jobs to Arizona, not protecting your own job.”
– Michael Nowakowski, Phoenix Vice Mayor

"While we know that the court battles are sure to continue and the fate of SB1070 and its related provisions is far from settled, we are hopeful that today's ruling will alleviate the fears of many victims of domestic violence and other violent crimes against women, men and children so that they will continue to reach out for support and assistance from law enforcement and the community."
– Allie Bones, Executive Director of the Arizona Coalition Against Domestic Violence

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