In a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder, Ranking Member Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX), Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-CA), and 18 other Members of Congress criticized the Obama administration’s decision to challenge Arizona’s 2010 immigration enforcement law, SB1070. The letter begins:

We write to express our disappointment and serious concerns about today's announcement that the Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against Arizona. Arizona has taken a reasonable, constitutional approach to dealing with a problem that has been ignored by the Obama Administration.

You can read the whole letter here.

McKeon made the following statement regarding the lettter:

It’s certainly an interesting way for the Obama administration to celebrate America’s Independence Day – with a lawsuit against a state trying to enforce laws which are already on the books to secure borders and protect residents from illegal immigration and drug cartels. The Justice Department’s lawsuit against Arizona grossly goes against common sense; the agency and Administration should instead be supporting states such as Arizona, not tying state leaders’ hands with bureaucratic red tape.

Other Members who signed the letter include Rep. Lamar Smith (TX), Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (CA), Rep. Steve King (IA), Rep. Trent Franks (AZ), Rep. Ed Royce (CA), Rep. Todd Tiahrt (KS), Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (CA), Rep. Sue Myrick (NC), Rep. Elton Gallegly (CA), Rep. Marsha Blackburn (TN), Rep. Dan Burton (IN), Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (WI), Rep. Gary Miller (CA), Rep. Gregg Harper (MS), Rep. Brian Bilbray (CA), Rep. Darrell Issa (CA), Rep. John Carter (TX), Rep. Peter King (NY), Rep. Jason Chaffetz (UT), Rep. Jeff Miller (FL).