Report: Obama will in fact sue over Arizona law

PHOENIX - Obama administration lawyers are planning to file a legal challenge to Arizona's immigration law within a month, according to a senior administration official who spoke with CNN.

Federal government lawyers will most likely file their arguments in federal court in Phoenix in the days leading up to July 29, when the law takes effect, CNN confirms.

Their sources also say the question of Arizona usurping federal authority to control the border and enforce immigration law is the most likely federal point of attack against the state law.

A new report from CBS News also indicates the federal government will challenge Arizona's immigration law in the coming days.

According to CBS , Justice Department lawyers are still building a case against SB1070, but will be ready shortly.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton earlier said in a television interview that the Obama Justice Department "will be bringing a lawsuit" against SB1070.

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer said she was angry over the comments by Clinton and that she would not back down in her fight to uphold the new immigration law.

On Friday Brewer released a statement saying, "Though not surprising, that decision is, nevertheless, outrageous."

The governor said she will make sure the immigration laws passed are defended all the way to the Supreme Court.

Read the full statement below...

SB1070 requires that police conducting traffic stops or questioning people about possible legal violations ask them about their immigration status if there is "reasonable suspicion" that they're in the country illegally.

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer's response to the federal government's plan to file a legal challenge to SB 1070:

"Because Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced on Ecuadorean television on June 8th that the Obama Administration had decided to sue Arizona over its recently passed anti-illegal immigration law, SB1070, it will come as no surprise if recent media reports are accurate and if the president's policies now, in fact, include filing a lawsuit against the State of Arizona.

"Though not surprising, that decision is, nevertheless, outrageous."

"Our federal government should be using its legal resources to fight illegal immigration, not the law-abiding citizens of Arizona. Despite the law's rigorous safeguards against racial profiling and carefully crafted language to avoid usurping federal authority, several lawsuits have already been filed.

"Because the Arizona Legislature had no confidence that the Attorney General would vigorously defend this legislation, subsequently giving me the authority to hire outside counsel - and because the Attorney General has now withdrawn as counsel for the State -- I will ensure the immigration laws we passed are vigorously defended all the way to the United States Supreme Court if necessary, where this reasonable law will ultimately be found constitutional."