The background on the bill:
April 23, 2010 – Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signed SB 1070 into law.
July 6, 2010 – the Obama Justice Department filed a lawsuit challenging the law and requesting a preliminary injunction to prevent the law from being enforced.
July 28, 2010 – U.S. District Court Judge Susan Bolton permitted certain provisions of the law to be enacted, while granting the Obama administration an injunction on other provisions until the Court could determine whether these provisions are constitutional. The State of Arizona appealed Judge Bolton’s ruling, and it is now under review by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
February 7, 2011 – Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signed emergency legislation authorizing the Legislature to participate in court proceedings related to the defense of SB 1070.
April 5, 2011 – U.S. District Court Judge Susan R. Bolton allowed the Arizona State Legislature’s intervention.
Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton was quoted as saying: “We are quite pleased that the Arizona State Legislature, which represents the people of Arizona, will be able to defend against the Obama administration’s assault on SB 1070. The Legislature has a paramount interest in seeing its law upheld. Arizona citizens have been living on the frontline in the battle against illegal immigration. The Obama administration has utterly failed in its obligation to protect Arizona citizens and secure the border. The people of Arizona are the winners today along with the Arizona State Legislature, Arizona State Senate President Russell Pearce, and Arizona House Speaker Kirk Adams.”
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