Ariz. to accelerate immigration law appeal

PHOENIX, May 9 (UPI) -- Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer said Monday state officials will ask the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn an injunction against enforcement of state immigration law.

Brewer and state Attorney General Tom Horne said the state would take its case directly to the U.S. Supreme Court, skipping a full review by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, The Arizona Republic reported. A three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit declined last month to overturn a federal judge's order barring enforcement of certain portions of Arizona Senate Bill 1070.

The injunction bars enforcement of provisions of the law requiring police officers to question people about their immigration status during routine law enforcement operations, if officers have reason to suspect people are not in the United States legally.

Brewer and Horne said it was necessary to accelerate the appeals process, which normally would involve a ruling by the full 9th Circuit, followed an appeal to the Supreme Court.

"The decision of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to uphold the suspension of key provisions of Senate Bill 1070 does harm to the safety and well-being of all Arizonans, who suffer the negative effects of illegal immigration," Brewer said.

The U.S. government sued to block enforcement of SB 1070 in 2010, arguing it unconstitutionally pre-empts federal enforcement of immigration laws. Arizona argues the U.S. government has not enforced federal law, resulting in a heavy flow of illegal immigrants.