Arizona’s countersuit against U.S. dismissed

PHOENIX – A federal judge Friday dismissed Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer’s lawsuit that accused the Obama administration of failing to enforce immigration laws or maintain control of her state’s border with Mexico.

The dismissal by U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton comes in a counter-lawsuit filed by Brewer as part of the Justice Department’s challenge to Arizona’s controversial immigration enforcement law.

The Republican governor was seeking a court order that would require the federal government to take extra steps, such as more border fencing, to protect Arizona until the border is controlled.

Bolton said Brewer’s claim that Washington has failed to protect Arizona from an “invasion” of illegal immigrants was a political question that isn’t appropriate for the court to decide.

The judge also barred some of Brewer’s claims because the issues were dealt with in a 1994 case by Arizona and can’t be litigated again.