LA RAZA SEN. SCHUMER HISPANDERING TO ILLEGALS LIKE AN OBAMAnite

Sen. Schumer Engages in Political Theater Prior to SB 1070 Hearing

In an attempt to discredit Arizona's immigration enforcement law the day before the U.S. Supreme Court was scheduled to hear oral arguments on it, Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) convened a hearing of the Senate Judiciary's Immigration Subcommittee to examine the "constitutionality and prudence" of state and local immigration enforcement laws. (See Sen. Schumer Letter, Feb. 23, 2012)
Sen. Schumer, who chairs the Subcommittee, wasted no time before speaking out against the Arizona legislation, SB 1070. Calling it "counterproductive and unconstitutional," he threatened to introduce a bill that would prohibit state and local police from enforcing immigration laws unless they are doing so pursuant to an explicit agreement with the federal government and are trained and supervised by federal officials. (Bloomberg Government Transcript, Apr. 24, 2012) Current law specifically provides that an agreement is not required for state and local officers to assist in the identification, apprehension, detention, or removal of illegal aliens. (INA § 287(g)(10); 8 U.S.C. 1357(g)(10))
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), the only other Member of the Subcommittee to attend the hearing, echoed Schumer's opposition to the law, and used the hearing as a platform for his failed DREAM Act. As an aide held up enlarged photographs of illegal alien minors that would qualify for amnesty under the DREAM Act, Sen. Durbin declared that it "is wrong and counterproductive to criminalize people because of their [immigration] status." (Bloomberg Government Transcript, Apr. 24, 2012) He then argued that the several illegal alien minors whose photos he showcased would be deported if SB 1070 were allowed to go into effect.
Former President of the Arizona State Senate and author of SB 1070 Russell Pearce was the only witness invited to speak in support of the law. Underscoring the need for his legislation, Pearce told Sens. Schumer and Durbin that illegal immigration costs Arizonans billions annually. That figure, he told them, "is just to educate, medicate, and incarcerate and… don't reflect the cost of crimes committed by those here illegally or jobs lost." He also reminded them that several of the 9/11 hijackers were in the country illegally, emphasizing the connection between enforcement of immigration laws and terrorist threats. "Four of the five leaders of the 9/11 attack were in violation of our immigration laws and had contact with law enforcement and were not arrested. The failure to enforce the immigration laws was instrumental in the deaths of nearly 3,000 people on that tragic day in America," he said.
Republicans on the Subcommittee boycotted the hearing, telling reporters it was merely a political stunt. "I will not participate in today's hearing because it is strictly political theater," said Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ), who serves on the Subcommittee. He continued, "The timing of the hearing just one day ahead of the Supreme Court's review of the law suggests that its purpose is either to influence the court's decision or to garner publicity."