Western Union Co. said Friday that it is appealing a court ruling this month allowing Arizona to seize remittances sent to Mexico from other states.
The case began in September 2006 after Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard seized about $200,000 of remittances that he alleged were connected to drug smuggling and human trafficking.
A state court ruled in January of last year that the seizures were unconstitutional, because they involved remittances that originated in other states and did not involve Arizona residents.
Mr. Goddard appealed that ruling, which the Arizona Court of Appeals overturned this month.
Western Union said it has asked the Arizona State Supreme Court to examine the constitutional issues in the appeals court's decision.
"We support and endorse the state of Arizona's law enforcement goals," David Schlapbach, the Englewood, Colo., company's general counsel and executive vice president, said in a press release. "We are also concerned about the constitutional rights of people to undertake ordinary financial transactions without unreasonable government interference."
