PHOENIX - Tired of growing national disapproval, Gov. Jan Brewer struck back Tuesday night at the Obama administration and others critical of the state's new law aimed at illegal immigrants.
"Why don't they do their job and uphold their laws?" Brewer said.
"They're not enforcing federal laws," the governor continued. "And that's all our bill does."
The governor's comments came hours after U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said his agency is reviewing the Arizona law "to decide exactly how we are going to react to it." He said the Department of Justice is "considering all possibilities, including the possibility of a court challenge."
Brewer said she is unconcerned. "It just mirrors the federal law," she said, in reference to a provision that effectively makes it a violation of Arizona law to be in this country illegally.
The statute, which will take effect in late July or early August unless first blocked by a court, lets police decide whether to prosecute those here illegally for breaking the Arizona law or simply turn them over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Brewer insisted Arizona has the legal right to make being here without federal authorization a state crime.
If the federal government disagrees, she said, they should just "secure our borders and there won't be a problem."
Brewer strikes back at critics of new law
"Why don't they do their job and uphold their laws?" Brewer said.
"They're not enforcing federal laws," the governor continued. "And that's all our bill does."
The governor's comments came hours after U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said his agency is reviewing the Arizona law "to decide exactly how we are going to react to it." He said the Department of Justice is "considering all possibilities, including the possibility of a court challenge."
Brewer said she is unconcerned. "It just mirrors the federal law," she said, in reference to a provision that effectively makes it a violation of Arizona law to be in this country illegally.
The statute, which will take effect in late July or early August unless first blocked by a court, lets police decide whether to prosecute those here illegally for breaking the Arizona law or simply turn them over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Brewer insisted Arizona has the legal right to make being here without federal authorization a state crime.
If the federal government disagrees, she said, they should just "secure our borders and there won't be a problem."
Brewer strikes back at critics of new law
