McDonnell Speaks Out Against Arizona Lawsuit
Governor Bob McDonnell took time yesterday to share his thoughts on the federal lawsuit against Arizona’s immigration law. Craig Carper reports.
The law passed by the Arizona state legislature and signed by Republican Governor Jan Brewer, will require police officers to detain people they suspect are illegal immigrants and determine their status. The law will also make the failure to carry immigration papers a misdemeanor and will allow citizens to sue agencies, should they believe the law is not being enforced.
Yesterday, Governor Bob McDonnell called the Arizona law a symptom of Washington’s failure to adequately address the issue and expressed his disappointment with the suit.
McDonnell: I think it’s highly unusual for the Federal Government to sue a state. I think there are some significant issues with that suit, especially in these tough budget times, states want to make sure that they aren’t spending a lot of money out of their precious state resources on people that are illegally present, that is just common sense.
During his time as Virginia's Attorney General, McDonnell pushed for stricter immigration enforcement policy, much of which was adopted.
Many critics of the Arizona law have suggested it could lead to racial profiling and harassment, while supporters say it gives the state the tools it needs to enforce existing law.
Craig Carper, WCVE News, Capitol Square
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