STATEHOUSE—State Rep. Eric Koch (R-Bedford) was among a nationwide coalition of state legislators that has filed an amicus brief with the United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals against the Obama administration’s legal challenge to Arizona’s newly enacted illegal alien apprehension and deportation law (Senate Bill 1070). State Legislators for Legal Immigration’s amicus brief was filed on behalf of the state of Arizona and Gov. The brief argues that giving state and local law enforcement full authority to apprehend illegal aliens for deportation as provided for in Senate Bill 1070 is: • Not a violation of the Supremacy Clause or pre-empted by federal law; “Article 4, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution states that our government ‘shall guarantee to every state in this Union a Republican form of government and shall protect each of them against invasion,’” said Rep. Koch. “It is unfortunate that the Obama administration has chosen to launch a taxpayer-funded lawsuit against the State of Arizona for passing a common-sense law to defend its citizens. As legislators from sister states, we stand with Arizona.” To view the amicus brief in its entirety or for more information visit: www.StateLegislatorsforLegalImmigration.com -30-
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