Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO) has apparently called the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency --- better known as ICE, for the chill they leave in destroyed immigrant communities across the United States --- to raid a press conference today called by Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL) in support of the DREAM Act for immigrant students.
I mean, come on? How crazy can you be?
From the New York Times:
Candidate Calls for Raid on Immigration Bill Event
By JULIA PRESTON
Representative Tom Tancredo of Colorado, a Republican presidential candidate whose fierce opposition to illegal immigration is the center of his campaign, contacted the immigration service yesterday demanding that agents raid a senator’s news conference.
The afternoon event on Capitol Hill was held by Senator Richard J. Durbin, Democrat of Illinois and the leading sponsor of a bill that would give legal status to illegal immigrants who are high school graduates, if they attend college or serve in the United States military for two years. The bill is scheduled to come up for an important procedural vote in the Senate this morning.
Mr. Tancredo announced yesterday morning that he had contacted Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the federal agency, calling for the arrest of illegal immigrants he said would attend the news conference.
“If we can’t enforce our laws inside the building where American laws are made, where can we enforce them?” Mr. Tancredo said in a statement.
Participating in the news conference were three immigrant students who would benefit if Mr. Durbin’s legislation passed; two were born in Germany, and one was from Costa Rica. All were in the United States on temporary legal status, said Joe Shoemaker, Mr. Durbin’s spokesman.
Mr. Shoemaker said the senator was surprised and offended by Mr. Tancredo’s effort.
“Congressman, have you no shame?” Mr. Durbin said in a statement, indirectly comparing Mr. Tancredo to Senator Joseph McCarthy and his anti-communist hearings in the 1950s.
A spokeswoman for the immigration agency, Kelly Nantel, confirmed that officials had received a letter from Mr. Tancredo and were reviewing it. She said the agency took no action yesterday.
Has immigrant scapegoating stooped this low, where federal agents are called to raid a US Senate press conference and terrorize immigrant students, who simply want a path to citizenship after they complete their college education?
Take a minute. Call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121. Talk to both of your Senators. The DREAM Act is being voted on RIGHT NOW! Don't let the nuts like Tancredo scare us into attacking immigrants rather than the real problems in our country --- which we're all facing together.