Ray Lutz, the Democratic challenger to California’s 52nd Congressional Seat spoke in response to Rep. Duncan D. Hunter who introduced a bill this past week. This bill is designed to block the department of justice from prosecuting its case against the state of Arizona for passing its immigration law, also known as Arizona’s SB-1070 law which mandates all persons to carry immigration documents.

If Hunter’s bill is passed, it would not allow the department of justice to potentially find Arizona’s SB-1070 law unconstitutional. “Hunter wants to stop the debate, but he knows he can’t pass his gag order — he’s just playing partisan politics to get in the news,” said Lutz. “I say let the courts chew on Arizona’s SB-1070 law and decide once and for all if it is unconstitutional. What’s the harm in that?”

Many gay rights groups including the Human Rights Campaign, the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, GLAAD and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund have already began boycott of Arizona’s immigration law. The groups issued a statement back in June in regards to the issues the GLBT community might have to face in light of this law:

All Arizona families — lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and straight — have reason to be alarmed. The state’s new law threatens to tear apart families, separate children from their parents and rip apart loving couples who are building their lives together. The LGBT community knows all too well how easily people who “look different” or “act different” can be singled out for harassment and persecution. LGBT immigrants will be doubly vulnerable under this law, which gives license to discriminate.

Lutz cited that Hunter’s bill would force the department of justice to cut funds from the Criminal Alien Assistance (SCAAP) program from varying counties, San Diego included. The counties affected would be ones that don’t ask for immigration documents during law enforcement and immigration confrontations. The unlikely, yet, potential passing of Hunter’s bill would put San Diego County in jeopardy of losing a lump sum of funding for this program.

In 2009, San Diego County received almost $3 million in funding for SCAAP and much-needed alien detention reimbursement. The potential effect of the passing of this bill would cause the county lose out on desperately needed funds for this program in a climate of already harsh economic times and severe state budget constraints. Hunter’s bill is said to have “very little chance of passing,” as only five items of Hunter-sponsored legislation have ever become law. A majority of which were ceremonial.

Hunter’s statements have made him notorious in the battle to repeal Arizona’s SB-1070 law, not simply endorsing it, but taking the battle for immigration a step further. In April, Congressman Hunter received harsh criticism for stating that he would favor deporting “natural born American citizens that are children of illegal immigrants.” This statement was rationalized by him because he felt that America couldn’t “afford” to continue its current immigration practices.

In response, Ray Lutz commented on Hunter’s anti-immigration remarks. “Disrespecting birthright citizenship flouts the 14th amendment to our constitution, and suggests we should revisit the civil liberties gained after the Civil War” said Lutz. “This guy is representing us and he can’t even respect the bill of rights. Which right will he go after next?”

With the legal, social and political battle being waged over Arizona’s controversial stance on immigration, it is only a matter of time after the Arizona immigration law takes effect and could potentially create a ripple effect that could spill into California and San Diego’s immigration practices.