Arizona receives millions in donations in support of its S.B. 1070 legal battle

According to the official Keep Arizona Safe website set up in May by Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, more than 30,000 people have donated to fund the legal battle to defend immigration law S.B. 1070.

The Miami Herald reported Tuesday that “Gov. Jan Brewer’s office says Arizona has received more than $2 million in donations to help pay for the legal defense of the state’s controversial law targeting illegal immigration.”

Seven lawsuits were filed to challenge the law. Two have been dismissed, but a judge, Susan Bolton, ruled on a suit filed by the U.S. Justice Department by blocking key provisions of the law from taking effect July 29.

Florida Rep. William Snyder, R- Stuart, and Attorney General Bill McCollum announced in August a bill similar to the Arizona immigration law.

Snyder wrote for the Sun-Sentinel,

Arizona recently enacted SB 1070 “relating to unlawfully present aliens.” Although the Arizona bill quickly became a source of extreme contention and controversy, I believe the law is sound and creates necessary public policy.

When I, on behalf of Floridians, recently released draft legislation similar to the Arizona bill, I received hundreds of phone calls and e-mails supporting this position.

In a recent article published by The Florida Independent social and religious and political leaders, including two Republican elected officials, explained why they reject Snyder’s proposed legislation.