Arizona Immigration Lawsuits: Tucson, Flagstaff City Councils Vote To Sue

Arizona Immigration Lawsuits: Tucson, Flagstaff City Councils Vote To Sue

FELICIA FONSECA | 05/ 5/10 06:49 AM | AP


In this image provided by The Arizona Republic, the newspaper's front page from Sunday, May 2, 2010 is shown. Arizona's largest newspaper criticized U.S. Sens. John McCain and Jon Kyl and a host of other elected officials in a rare front-page editorial Sunday, saying the politicians have failed to find solutions to illegal immigration.


FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — The Tucson and Flagstaff city councils voted Tuesday to sue Arizona over its tough new immigration law, citing concerns about enforcement costs and negative effects on the state's tourism industry.

They are the first municipalities in Arizona to approve legal challenges to the law. Earlier this week, proposed litigation in Phoenix took a hit when the city attorney said Mayor Phil Gordon lacks the authority to file suit without the support of the City Council.

The new state law requires local and state law enforcement officers to question people about their immigration status if there is reason to suspect they're in the country illegally.

The Flagstaff City Council voted unanimously in favor of a resolution that says it's an unfunded mandate to carry out the responsibilities of the federal government. Its Tuesday night meeting drew a crowd that initially numbered in the hundreds but dwindled significantly as the night wore on.

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