The city councils of Tucson and Flagstaff have voted (5-1 and 5-0) to sue the state over concerns that the law will increase costs for cash-strapped city budgets and discourage tourists from visiting Arizona. The two city governments also maintain that the immigration bill forces the state to pay for immigration enforcement that is legally the responsibility of the U.S. government.

 

There are no Hispanic members on the Flagstaff City Council. Tucson Mayor Bob Walkup said the law—which requires anyone stopped by police to show proof of citizenship or legal status—is misguided and a threat to his city’s reliance on tourism dollars from Mexico.

 

In Phoenix, Mayor Phil Gordon wants to join the legal attacks against the law, but the city council refused to authorize a lawsuit.

 

In addition to the city council challenges, four other lawsuits have been filed to stop the law from going into effect in July.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

 

2 Arizona City Councils Vote to Sue Over New Law (by Felicia Fonseca, Associated Press)

City Suit Will Seek to Nullify SB 1070 (by Rob O'Dell, Arizona Daily Star)