Statements from political and private sector groups are rolling in responding to the Justice Department lawsuit challenging SB 1070. The Phoenix Business Journal has been doing ongoing updates online:

From Maria Elena Durazo, The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO:

“I am thrilled to be in Phoenix today when the federal lawsuit was filed. I am meeting with Arizona’s labor, community, and elected leaders to begin to lay the groundwork for a long-term relationship between the Latino and working people of Los Angeles and the Latino and working people of Arizona. I look forward to returning to Arizona on July 29 with more than 500 L.A. union members, and faith and community leaders who are energetic and ready to lend their solidarity and assistance to our brothers and sisters who will change the face of Arizona politics,” says Maria Elena Durazo, Executive Secretary Treasurer of the of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO."

From Chicanos Por la Causa:

As Arizona’s leading community development corporation, Chicanos Por La Causa, Inc. (CPLC) supports the federal government’s decision to fight the most hateful piece of legislation the state has seen in recent history. CPLC praises U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and the Department of Justice for having the courage to file a lawsuit against Senate Bill 1070 (SB 1070).

“We are heartened by the federal government’s announcement that it will lead the fight against this law that threatens to harm our state on so many levels,” said CPLC President and CEO Edmundo Hidalgo. “We hope that this action is an indication of the government’s commitment to pass comprehensive immigration reform, the only solution for our country to move forward.”

Businessman Steve Moak, Republican Candidate for Arizona’s 3rd Congressional District doesn’t like the feds attempt to embargo the new law. Neither does the estimable J.D. Hayworth, U.S. Senate candidate:

“The federal government has failed to protect the people of Arizona from illegal aliens, so the state government, quite sensibly, moved to fill the void. This lawsuit should fail because it is based on the absurd assertion that Arizona should be punished for enforcing federal immigration laws which our current President and current attorney general have no interest in enforcing.”

Read the entire report here.