Office of Public Affairs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Department of Justice Challenges Utah’s Immigration Law
Several Provisions Interfere with Enforcement of Federal Immigration Law
WASHINGTON – The Department of Justice today challenged Utah’s
immigration law, which comes after recent lawsuits in Arizona, Alabama
and South Carolina.
In a complaint, filed in the District of Utah, the department states
that several provisions of Utah’s H.B. 497 are preempted by federal law.
The provisions were enacted on March, 15, 2011.
The department’s lawsuit comes after several months of constructive
discussions with Utah state officials. Notwithstanding today’s lawsuit,
department officials expect this important dialogue to continue.
The department’s complaint states that H.B. 497 clearly violates the
Constitution because it attempts to establish state-specific immigration
policy. The law creates and mandates immigration enforcement measures
that interfere with the immigration priorities and practices of the
federal government in a way which is not cooperative with the primary
federal role in this area.
The law’s mandates on law enforcement could lead to harassment and
detention of foreign visitors and legal immigrants who are in the
process of having their immigration status reviewed in federal
proceedings and whom the federal government has permitted to stay in
this country while such proceedings are pending.
The federal government has the ultimate authority to enforce federal
immigration laws and the Constitution does not permit a patchwork of
local immigration policies.
A state setting its own immigration policy interferes with the federal government’s enforcement efforts.
“A patchwork of immigration laws is not the answer and will only create
further problems in our immigration system,” said Attorney General Eric
Holder.
“The federal government is the chief enforcer of immigration
laws and while we appreciate cooperation from states, which remains
important, it is clearly unconstitutional for a state to set its own
immigration policy. We will continue to monitor and coordinate with our
federal partners as we
remain concerned about the potential impact of these state laws.”
“This kind of legislation diverts critical law enforcement resources
from the most serious threats to public safety and undermines the vital
trust between local jurisdictions and the communities they serve,” said
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. “The
Department will continue to enforce federal immigration laws in Utah in
smart, effective ways that focus our resources on criminal aliens,
recent border crossers, repeat and egregious immigration law violators
and employers who knowingly hire illegal labor.”
The department notified Utah state officials of its position that the
Utah’s Immigrant Guest Worker statutes, H.B. 116 and H.B. 469, are
clearly preempted by federal law.
Given that the provisions do not take effect until 2013, and in
light of the constructive conversations the department continues to
have with Utah officials about these provisions pursuant to the Justice
Department’s long-standing policy of exploring resolution short of
litigation before filing suit against a state, the department is not
challenging these provisions today.
If, however, Utah fails to comply with federal law in this
area, the department will not hesitate to take the legal action
necessary to vindicate the important federal interests in this matter
before these laws go into effect.
The suit was filed on behalf of the Departments of Justice,
Homeland Security and State, which share responsibilities in
administering federal immigration law. The department will soon request
a preliminary injunction to enjoin enforcement of the certain
provisions of H.B. 497.
The Justice Department previously challenged S.B. 1070, H.B. 56, and Act
No. 69 on federal preemption grounds in Arizona, Alabama and South
Carolina, respectively. The department continues to review
immigration-related laws that were passed in Indiana and Georgia.
Courts have enjoined key parts of the Arizona, Alabama,
Georgia and Indiana state laws and temporarily restrained enforcement of
Utah’s law.
11-1526
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