Arizona ruling opposed by Western Union

PHOENIX, July 27 (UPI) -- Western Union Co. says a ruling regarding financial wire transfers should be overturned by the Arizona Supreme Court.

The financial services company has filed an appeal with the state's top court asking that it overturn a state appellate court's ruling that overturned a lower court's ruling on the seizure of wired funds by state investigators, The Arizona Republic reported Sunday.

The lower court had initially ruled in favor of Western Union regarding the state's seizures of such Mexico-bound funds when they are suspected of belonging to human smugglers.

The state appeals court overturned that ruling, forcing Western Union to take its case to the state Supreme Court.

The company has said it is fighting such state actions in an attempt to protect its innocent customers who send cash transfers outside Arizona's borders.

But Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard has argued that seizing suspected illicitly earned funds is vital to disrupting ongoing smuggling operations that bring illegal immigrants into the United States, the Republic said.