House Democrats took to the grounds of the Capitol today to condemn the Arizona’s controversial new immigration law and call on Congress and the White House to take action to fix the nation’s immigration problems before more states attempt to take the law into their own hands.
The House group, led by Rep. Mike Honda (D-CA) was joined by Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ), who joined the speakers in calling for action on comprehensive immigration reform now. The speakers used strong rhetoric to condemn the Arizona law, calling it “legalized racial profiling” and comparing it to the apartheid system in South Africa.
“This law panders to the worst elements of our national dialogue,” Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) said.
Other speakers agreed with that assertion, claiming that the Arizona law will lead to more controversial immigration legislation across the country.
Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, said the law “hearkens back to Jim Crow.”
“As an African-American, I can tell you this opens the floodgates to racial profiling,” she said. “This bill is not only wrong, it’s un-American.”
Lee voiced the opinion of the rest of the group when she said the Arizona law means “the time is now” for comprehensive immigration reform to move forward in Washington. The Democratic Representatives took aim at Sen. Lindsay Graham’s (R-SC) recent promise to force climate change legislation to come before immigration on the Senate agenda.
“We will not be moved,” Rep Shelia Jackson-Lee (D-TX) said. She said Graham’s rhetoric on the immigration bill reminded her of the Dixiecrats in the Old South.
Jackson-Lee said that Graham and the other Republicans will not stop immigration legislation from being heard. Other speakers agreed.
“The book is far from written,” Honda said, dismissing claims that the Senate bill had no chance this year. “The Senate has a responsibility to lead.”
Late Update: Christina reports that despite what House Democrats may hope, the votes don’t seem to be there in the Senate to pass comprehensive immigration reform.
Evan McMorris-Santoro
Evan McMorris-Santoro has covered politics for TPM since 2009. Before that, he was a reporter at National Journal’s Hotline covering election 2008. He started his career covering local politics at newspapers in TN and his native NC.
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