In a rare move by any administration, the federal government has sued the state of Arizona over the most restrictive immigration law in the country, SB1070.

From The Washington Post:

“The Justice Department lawsuit charges that the Arizona law … conflicts with federal law, would disrupt immigration enforcement and would lead to police harassment of those who cannot prove their lawful status. Filed in federal court in Arizona, it says the state’s measure is unconstitutional and asks a judge to stop it from taking effect.

‘The Constitution and the federal immigration laws do not permit the development of a patchwork of state and local immigration policies throughout the country,’ the lawsuit says.”

This week’s announcement occurred on the heels of major national address on comprehensive immigration reform from President Obama, where he called Arizona’s law “misguided.” In its challenge to the Arizona law, the Department of Justice is taking action to reassert control over immigration policy at the federal level. Experts suspect that a judge will issue a preliminary injunction soon, blocking the law from being enacted at the end of July.

+Ask the U.S. Senate to pass national immigration reform this year