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Schumer: Once We Find a Second GOP Sponsor, “We’re Ready To Go”

Posted March 21, 2010 by Ted Hesson
Categories: Federal Immigration Policy

I’m heading to the March for America immigration reform rally in Washington, D.C. this afternoon, and will be posting photos, videos, and maybe some blogs. Our bus, organized by the New York Immigration Coalition, just crossed into Maryland, so I’m going to guess that we’ll reach the capital by noon or so.

Around 10am, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) participated in a question and answer conference call with the New York Immigration Coalition, and I was able to dial in and hear his thoughts regarding immigration reform.

Schumer, along with Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), recently outlined their principles of immigration reform, espousing a list of goals that appeared to be decided less focused on immigrant rights than a reform bill introduced by Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) in November 2009. Schumer said that he will not be attending the march today due to a prior family engagement.

I had a difficult time hearing some parts of the call because of feedback on the line, but here’s much of what Schumer said:

The senator began the call by reiterating that he was “a believer in immigration,” and talked about inheriting the Senate immigration sub-committee from the late-Senator Ted Kennedy:

“When Senator Kennedy was ill, he said, “Could you please take the immigration sub-committee and finish the work that I started?”

With a battle being waged in the House over healthcare reform today, Schumer framed the fight for immigration reform in partisan terms, saying that his reform bill was ready to go, but that he and Lindsey Graham would need the support of another Republican senator to introduce it.

“If we get a second Republican, and there are four or five that are pushing, then we’ll put out the bill immediately…We’re ready to go.”

The questions directed at Schumer addressed future immigration flows, family reunification, and a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrant students, all issues that are underplayed, if mentioned at all, in Schumer’s reform “blueprint” published by Schumer and Graham in the Washington Post this week.

Regarding undocumented students, Schumer spoke of support for the DREAM Act: “I know many many people have hope on the DREAM Act, and as we move through the process, I am committed to getting the DREAM Act passed as well.”

Schumer focused on the pathway to citizenship for the 10-12 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S. today, but didn’t spend much time talking about the enforcement provisions he endorses, such as biometric ID cards, which have been controversial among immigrant rights activists.

Speaking more generally, Schumer addressed the inextricable role that immigration has played in our nation’s history. “Immigrants are one of the reasons America is the greatest country in the world,” he said. “One of the main reasons, in my opinion.”

To the reform supporters heading to D.C.—there are 210 buses traveling to the capital from New York State alone—he asked that they maintain their activism and energy beyond today’s rally.

“Please keep it up; don’t let the march be the only action,” Schumer said. “It’s not just the immigrant community that needs the legislation, it’s the USA that needs the legislation.”

Tags : immigration reform, rally, schumer

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