AG Tom Horne Statement Regarding U.S. Supreme Court Intent To Decide S.B. 1070

PHOENIX (Monday, December 12, 2011) -- Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne today released the following statement regarding the announcement from the U.S. Supreme Court that the Court granted certiorari for the petition for review in Arizona v. United States, the legal case involving S.B. 1070.

“The U.S. Supreme Court’s grant of certiorari in the S.B. 1070 case is an important step in what I hope will be the ultimate vindication of S.B. 1070. One little-noticed aspect of the 9th Circuit decision to be reviewed is its conclusion that S.B. 1070 unlawfully trespasses on federal monopoly of foreign relations. Arizona has not opened any embassies, consulates, nor has it entered into any agreements with foreign countries. What it has done is pass a law that foreign countries disagree with. This is common. For example, Arizona has capital punishment, which many foreign countries disagree with. If a federal court can cancel state laws on the grounds that foreign countries disagree with them, and this therefore trespasses on the federal monopoly on foreign relations, then the sovereignty of our entire country has been severely weakened. 

The Arizona law mirrors federal immigration law in many respects, and gives state and local law enforcement agencies a vital tool to deal with suspected illegal immigrants. This is a reasonable and practical measure that I hope will be vindicated by the Supreme Court.”