Excerpt of statement by Attorney General Eric Holder at April 27, 2010, press conference

Kennedy Department of Justice Building, Washington, D.C. 1:36 P.M. EDT, Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Justice Department Press Conference With Eric Holder, Attorney General; Tony West, Assistant Attorney General, Civil Division; Michael Levy, U.S. Attorney For The Eastern District Of Pennsylvania; Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary Of Health And Human Services
Subject: Health-Care Fraud Settlement With Astrazeneca

Q: What is the status of this department's preliminary review at this point of the Arizona immigration law? 

Atty Gen. Holder: Well, I think that that law is an unfortunate one.  I think that it is I fear subject to potential abuse. And I'm very concerned about the wedge that it could draw, between communities that law enforcement is supposed to serve and those of us in law enforcement. 
The Justice Department, along with the department -- along with DHS, is looking at the law to decide exactly how we are going to react to it. We are considering all possibilities, including the possibility of a court challenge. 

Q: Do you think it's clearly an unconstitutional measure? 

Atty Gen. Holder:  Well, as I say, we are reviewing the law right now. We have an -- a group that has been together over the past few days to examine exactly what our reaction is going to be to it. So that review's under way.