id="IL_AD8" class="IL_AD">aliens says he's fighting back against the attack by the federal government.

Obama's Justice Department has sued the state over S.B. 1070, which gives state law-enforcement officers legal authority to enforce the federal limits and allows them to ask those who are stopped for other crimes about their immigration status.

It also forbids racial profiling and has been received so well polls reflect that a majority of Americans approve of it, and as many as 18 states already are considering adopting similar provisions.

The plan was authored by Arizona state Sen. Russell Pearce, and a motion has been filed in the federal government's lawsuit against the state requesting that he be allowed to defend it. 

The motion to intervene was filed by Judicial Watch, a Washington-based government watchdog that identifies and prosecutes corruption in the ranks of government.

"To further the interests of his legislative district and all citizens of Arizona, Senator Pearce authored S.B. 1070. On January 13, 2010, Senator Pearce introduced S.B. 1070 into the Arizona Senate. Over several months, Senator Pearce worked with his colleagues to enact a statutory scheme that made S.B. 1070 the public policy of all state and local government agencies in Arizona," the court filing says.

"Senator Pearce was the chief sponsor of S.B. 1070 and voted in favor of its passage. Senator Pearce's efforts came to fruition when Governor Brewer signed S.B. 1070 and H.B. 2762 into law. As the author and driving force behind the enactment of S.B. 1070, Senator Pearce has the right to defend it."

"The purpose of S.B. 1070 is to protect the citizens of Arizona from the devastating and deadly impact of rampant illegal immigration," Pearce added. "And it is outrageous that the Obama administration would attack Arizona for simply protecting its own citizens, especially when it has failed so miserably to do its constitutional duty and secure the border.

"This is a legal battle of epic proportions. As a senator in a state on the frontlines, I see firsthand the damage being done to our state and our country," he continued. "What happens here in Arizona will impact every state in the country interested in protecting its citizens by enforcing the rule of law. We are a nation of laws. We must have the courage – the fortitude – to enforce, with compassion but without apology, those laws that protect the integrity of our borders and the rights of our lawful citizens."

Tom Fitton, Judicial Watch president, said the fight "may be the most important piece of litigation that Judicial Watch has undertaken in its 16-year history."

He said, "In many ways, this comes down to a fight between those who want to enforce the law and those who do not. The Obama White House wants to kill this law because it does not want to bear its constitutional responsibility to secure the border and enforce the law. We are proud to stand with Arizona State Sen. Pearce, Governor Brewer and the citizens of Arizona in support of the rule of law."

Arizona already has started assembling its defense and is accepting contributions for the expense of fighting Attorney General Eric Holder's attack on the state.

Others in Washington are taking notice, too.

Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., told Neil Cavuto on Fox News, "The Obama administration needs to stop bullying Arizona and start securing our borders and protecting our people."

He said all Arizona is doing is "enforcing the federal law."

DeMint said he's working on a plan in Congress that would prevent any federal funds from being used for the lawsuit.

"That's one way Congress can restrict the action of the executive branch," he said.

Sen. David Vitter, R-La., is working with DeMint.

The dispute over the new law, while taking center stage for some weeks already, reached the courthouse today, with an initial hearing on a separate lawsuit over the law.

In that case, one police officer and one activist organization sued to prevent its implementation.

The actions by Phoenix Officer David Salgado and the group Chicanos Por La Causa were before U.S. District Court Judge Susan Bolton.

The Justice Department action is to be before the same judge July 22.

The state law makes it an Arizona crime to be in the U.S. illegally.

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