I think she puts the case succinctly - and powerfully:

"America is not going to sit back and allow the ongoing federal failures to continue. We are a nation of laws, and we believe they need to be enforced," Brewer said. "If the federal government wants to be in charge of illegal immigration and they want no help from states, it then needs to do its job. Arizona would not be faced with this problem if the federal government honored its responsibilities."

"Illegal immigration is an ongoing crisis the state of Arizona did not create and the federal government has refused to fix," she continued. "[Senate bill] 1070 protects all of us, every Arizona citizen and everyone here in our state, lawfully. It ensures that the constitutional rights of all in Arizona are undiminished."

A portion of the state law took effect Thursday. But the most controversial provision, which requires police to check the immigration status of anyone they arrest or detain, was blocked by the judge.