July 28, 2010
Media Contact: Jenn Meale
Phone: (850) 245-0150
Attorney General McCollum issues statement on preliminary injunction in Arizona immigration lawsuit
TALLAHASSEE, FL -- Attorney General Bill McCollum today issued the following statement on the preliminary injunction issued today by a federal judge in the lawsuit challenging the Arizona immigration law:
"Today, the sovereignty of states has been dealt a serious blow by the judge’s order blocking implementation of some of the most significant provisions of Arizona’s immigration law. The order will prevent law enforcement from performing critical functions under that law while the Court deliberates on the constitutionality of the law’s key provisions. The Obama Administration continues its efforts to strip rights away from our states, and we should all be very concerned about these repeated intrusions.
"My office will continue to actively support Arizona in the legal fight challenging this law. I will also continue working with Representative Will Snyder, House Chairman of Criminal and Civil Justice Policy Council, to draft legislation for Florida’s version of the Arizona immigration law that will strengthen our immigration laws and give law enforcement additional tools in combating illegal immigration.
"I was pleased to see that the provisions in the Arizona law requiring all Arizona businesses use E-verify to check the status of their employees and eliminating sanctuary cities were not blocked from taking effect. I look forward to discussing the use of the E-verify system by Florida state agencies at tomorrow’s Cabinet meeting."