Debate rages over SB1070 in U.N. report

PHOENIX -- Debate is growing over the mention of Arizona's new immigration law in a report to the United Nations Human Rights Council.

Gov. Jan Brewer sent a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton last week, expressing "concern and indignation" that the administration's federal lawsuit against SB1070 is cited in the U.N. report as part of the administration's efforts to fight human rights violations.

Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard, a Democrat who is challenging Brewer for the governor's chair, on Monday added his indignation at the inclusion of SB1070 in the human rights report, but suggested Brewer is to blame for signing the controversial bill into law.

The State Department and the American Civil Liberties Union defended the human rights report.

Brewer said in her letter that the Obama Administration has no right to challenge a state law and that the mention of SB1070 should be removed from the U.N. report.

"The idea of our own American government submitting the duly enacted laws of a state of the United States to review by the United Nations is internationalism run amok and unconstitutional," Brewer wrote in her letter to Clinton.

Goddard, for his part, said Monday, "I think it's just another example that we're being slandered. Unfortunately, Gov. Brewer has put us in that position in many ways."

He added, "I'm angry about the statement that was made and I'm probably even angrier that it seems that Arizona is constantly being held up this way for adverse criticism." Brewer's comments haven't helped, Goddard said.

"No question that she's added to the perception that we have constant violence and beheadings and horrible things going on in the state, none of which is true."

Violent crime in Arizona is at a 20-year low, he said. Nicole Thompson, a spokesman for the State Department, said it stands by its document.

"We are the United States and we do stand as an example to the rest of the world," said Thompson. "Also, we encourage other countries to take a close look and to constantly examine their human rights and individual freedoms within their own countries."

Thompson added, "One of the ways that we remain in such a good position is to constantly reflect and study our progress and areas that we can improve here in the United States."

A state lawmaker who helped write SB1070 questioned the administration's motivation for its human rights report. Rep. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, told Fox News, "It's part of the Obama Administration's, `We're part of the international community, and we'll bash America to show our new international friends how much like them we are.'"

Kavanagh said, "I think they're playing to their base here at home which loves to bash the U.S. They're playing to the international community which loves to bash the U.S." Alessandra Soler Meetze, executive director of the Arizona ACLU, said she believes politics is behind Brewer's reaction.

"This is an election year. This is a very polarizing issue. I think that clearly she has not been fully informed about the process. She's been misinformed." Meetze said many Republicans have spoken out in favor of the U.N.'s fight for human rights.

"That document, the universal declaration of human rights, is more than just words. It's a global testament of humanity, a standard by which any humble person on earth can stand in judgment of any government on earth. And that's a quote from Ronald Reagan."

Brewer's office did not respond Monday to a request for further comment on the issue.