Analyst's note:  This article names names of those in support of a state trying to protect itself and a nation from an invasion of illegal immigrants.

More than 80 Members of Congress have filed a friend-of-the-court brief in support of Arizona against the lawsuit filed two weeks ago by the Justice Department. The Federal Government and Justice Department argue that Arizona's new immigration enforcement law preempts power granted to the federal government, but the Members of Congress argue in their brief that not only does it not preempt federal authority, but Congress encourages states to assist in the enforcement of immigration laws.

One claim set forth by the Justice Department is that the Department of Homeland Security has chosen to be selective in their enforcement of immigration laws, and since Arizona's bill isn't selective it oversteps the Department's authority. The Members of Congress argue, however, that DHS receives its authority to enforce immigration laws from Congress, and as long as Arizona's law doesn't overstep Congress, the law is valid.

The Members of Congress further argue that Congress has a history of passing legislation that encourages states to assist in the enforcement of federal immigration laws and that the Justice Department has a history of recognizing state enforcement of federal immigration laws.

Signers of the brief, include:

HOUSE MEMBERS

• Congressman Trent Franks (R-Ariz.)
• Congressman Brian Bilbray (R-Calif.)
• Congressman John Campbell (R-Calif.)
• Congressman Gary Miller (R-Calif.)
• Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.)
• Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (R-Minn)
• Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.)
• Congressman Bill Posey (R-Fla.)
• Congressman Ted Poe (R-Texas)
• Congressman Howard Coble (R-N.C.)
• Congressman Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.)
• Congressman Rodney Alexander (R-La.)
• Congressman John Sullivan (R-Okla.)
• Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.)
• Congressman John Fleming (R-La.)
• Congressman Jerry Moran (R-Kan.)
• Congressman Steve King (R-Iowa)
• Congresswoman Sue Myrick (R-N.C.)
• Congressman John Duncan (R-Calif.)
• Congressman Jeff Miller (R-Fla.)
• Congressman Mike Simpson (R-Idaho)
• Congressman Scott Garrett (R-N.J.)
• Congressman Mike Coffman (R-Colo.)
• Congressman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio)
• Congressman Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich.)
• Congressman Walter Jones (R-N.C.)
• Congressman Paul Broun (R-Ga.)
• Congressman John Culberson (R-Texas)
• Congressman John Boozman (R-Ark.)
• Congressman Ed Royce (R-Calif.)
• Congressman Jack Kingston (R-Ga.)
• Congressman J. Gresham Barrett (R-S.C.)
• Congressman Pete Hoekstra (R-Texas)
• Congressman John Carter (R-Texas)
• Congressman Tom McClintock (R-Calif.)
• Congressman Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.)
• Congressman Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.)
• Congresswoman Jean Schmidt (R-Ohio)
• Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.)
• Congressman John Kline (R-Minn.)
• Congressman Phil Gingrey (R-Pa.)
• Congressman Joe Pitts (R-Pa.)
• Congresswoman Cynthia Lummis (R-Wy.)
• Congressman John Shadegg (R-Ariz.)
• Congressman Michael Burgess (R-Texas)
• Congressman Spencer Bachus (R-Ala.)
• Congressman Lamar Smith (R-Texas)
• Congressman Kevin Brady (R-Texas)
• Congressman Todd Platts (R-Pa.)
• Congressman Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah)
• Congressman Robert Latta (R-Ohio)
• Congressman Phil Roe (R-Tenn.)
• Congressman Mike Rogers (R-Mich.)
• Congressman Rob Wittman (R-Va.)
• Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.)
• Congressman Elton Gallegly (R-Calif.)
• Congresswoman Ginny Brown-Waite (R-Fla.)
• Congressman Louie Gohmert (R-Texas)
• Congressman Wally Herger (R-Calif.)
• Congressman Gene Taylor (D-Miss.)
• Congressman Geoff Davis (R-Ky.)
• Congressman Tom Graves (R-Ga.)
• Congressman Tom Price (R-Ga.)
• Congressman Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.)
• Congressman Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.)
• Congressman Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.)
• Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins (R-Kan.)
• Congressman Tim Murphy (R-Pa.)
• Congressman Randy Neugebauer (R-Texas)
• Congressman Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.)
• Congressman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.)
• Congressman Ken Calvert (R-Calif.)
• Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Texas)
• Congressman David Dreier (R-Calif.)
• Congressman Rob Bishop (R-Utah)
• Congressman Randy Forbes (R-Va.)

SENATORS

• Senator Roger Wicker (R-Miss.)
• Senator Jim DeMint (R-S.C.)
• Senator David Vitter (R-La.)
• Senator James Inhofe (R-Okla.)
• Senator John Barrasso (R-Wy.)

Download a PDF version of the brief filed.

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