Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox has taken the lead in backing Arizona by filing an amicus brief in federal court. He has been joined by eight states and one U.S. Territory: Florida, Alabama, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, and the Northern Mariana Islands. “Arizona, Michigan, and every other state have the authority to enforce immigration laws, and it is appalling to see President Obama use taxpayer dollars to stop a state’s efforts to protect its own borders,” said Cox.

The amicus brief, filed July 14, 2010, in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona, defends the States’ authority to concurrently enforce federal immigration laws, especially in light of the selective and even lack of enforcement of those laws by the Obama administration. Under the current situation, the states have lost control over their borders and are left to guess at the reality of the law. The action of these states was taken in response to the lawsuit filed on July 6, 2010, by U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder against Arizona and the state’s governor, Jan Brewer, on behalf of President Obama to stop implementation of the state’s new immigration law.

After District Court Judge Susan Bolton barred SB 1070 from taken effect July 29 as intended by Governor Brewer and the Arizona legislature, Michigan Attorney General Cox said the ruling “is a slap in the face to citizens who are trying to exercise their sovereignty and protect their borders.” The coalition of nine states has pledged to continue to support Arizona Governor Brewer in the appeal process.

Over objections from various “immigrant rights” lobbyists and liberal legislators, in December 2007, Cox issued a formal attorney general’s opinion ending Michigan’s practice of granting driver’s licenses to illegal aliens.

The entire Brief of Amici Curiae may be read on-line by going to the website of the Michigan Attorney General.