Florida joins fight against DOJ lawsuit over Arizona immigration law

Supporters of comprehensive immigration reform took to the courts to battle Arizona’s controversial S.B. 1070, and those who defend tougher enforcement laws and states’ rights have done the same. Florida and Attorney General Bill McCollum are weighing in on the side of the latter.

The News Service of Florida reported:

Florida is joining eight other states in supporting Arizona’s new immigration law against a lawsuit filed by the Obama administration designed to strike down the law in a showdown over states’ rights.

Attorney General Bill McCollum said Wednesday that Florida has filed a brief with Alabama, Michigan, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota Texas, Virginia and the Mariana Islands that defends Arizona’s right to make its own laws.

Florida Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, recently vowed to file an Arizona-type law in the next legislative session. House member and chair of the Criminal Justice Committee William Snyder (R) and both Republican gubernatorial candidates, Rick Scott and Bill McCollum, as well as GOP Senate candidate Marco Rubio have also voiced support for a similar law in Florida.

“GOP Sens. Jim DeMint of South Carolina and David Vitter of Louisiana announced yesterday they are introducing an amendment to a small business bill that would prohibit the Obama administration from participating in lawsuits against the Arizona law,” CBS reported. ”They are planning on introducing the proposal to the bill slated for debate on the Senate floor next week.”