Obama Sues Arizona, Leaves Sanctuary Cities Alone

s this issue of Middle American News goes to press, the Obama regime has declared a litigation war against the people of Arizona and their elected representatives, claiming that the state is interfering with federal immigration law and its enforcement by identifying illegal aliens when encountered.   But Obama and his Department of Justice have declined to file suit against any of the many so-called "sanctuary" cities who actively interfere with immigration law enforcement every day by refusing to report to federal immigration authorities the arrest of illegal aliens.

Justice officials argue the two cases are not similar. "There is a big difference between a state or locality saying they are not going to use their resources to enforce a federal law -- as so-called sanctuary cities have done -- and a state passing its own immigration policy," claimed Tracy Schmaler, a spokeswoman for left-wing Attorney General Eric Holder.

But that argument is hokum, according to Rep. Lamar Smith, R-TX, who authored the 1996 federal law that requires states and localities to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.  He told the Washington Times there is little distinction between cites and states in immigration law enforcement.

Sanctuary cities clearly violate that law when they refuse to tell federal authorities about arrested illegal aliens, allowing many criminal aliens to escape the deportation proceedings required by federal immigration laws.

"For the Justice Department to suggest that they won't take action against those who passively violate the law -- who fail to comply with the law -- is absurd," he told the Times. "Will they ignore individuals who fail to pay taxes? Will they ignore banking laws that require disclosure of transactions over $10,000? Of course not."

 Arizona's law incorporates into a state law a federal requirement for aliens to carry their immigration documents with them at all times.  But Attorney General Eric Holder and the Obama administration have argued that the state law helps to create a "patchwork" of state laws creating a different immigration policy from the federal government.

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer said it is the so-called "sanctuary cities" that are the problem creating a patchwork of different laws.  Arizona's law simply reflects the federal law by conforming to it.

"President Obama's administration has chosen to sue Arizona for helping to enforce federal immigration law and not sue local governments that have adopted a patchwork of 'sanctuary' policies that directly violate federal law. These patchwork local 'sanctuary' polices instruct the police not to cooperate with federal immigration officials," said Brewer.

Smith agrees. "The White House is just plain wrong on the premise, since the Arizona law mirrors federal law, it does not interfere with it," he said.

In 2007, the Justice Department's inspector general listed 15 cities that have adopted policies to not inform federal immigration authorities when they arrest an illegal alien.  There were 10 cities that consistently refused to tell authorities when a known illegal alien was being released from custody, protecting the criminal from deportation.

Obama's top advisers, including campaign strategist David Axelrod, have endorsed a political election strategy that relies on keeping the U.S. borders open to a massive inflow of Hispanic immigrants who, when naturalized as citizens, vote overwhelmingly for Democrat candidates.  In his book, Stand Up Straight, Democrat Party strategist Robert Creamer argues that because of immigration, "a gigantic block [sic] of progressive voters will enter the electorate over the next 15 years," ensuring Democrat control of the presidency.

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