Jan Brewer Declines To Defend Immigration Policy To U.S. Senate

WASHINGTON -- Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (R) is ducking a U.S. Senate invitation to come defend her state's harsh immigration law.

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) had challenged her Thursday to appear before his Senate Judiciary subcommittee to explain why the federal government's recent $600 million spending spree on tighter border security was inadequate. Brewer is due to be in Washington on April 25, when the Supreme Court hears oral argument on her state's law, which lower courts have partially blocked as unconstitutional.

But a Brewer spokesman told news outlets Friday that she would decline and accused Schumer of staging a publicity stunt.

"Governor Brewer has long said border security is one of the nation's most pressing issues, so it is odd that she is unwilling to even come to Congress to defend her views," responded Schumer, who chairs the immigration and border security panel, in a statement. "It makes you wonder whether there is genuine interest in finding real solutions to our broken immigration system. We hope the Governor will reconsider.”

Critics of the Arizona law, SB 1070, which allows police to jail immigrants who fail to present proper documents, contend that it amounts to racial profiling.

Schumer had argued in a letter to the Arizona governor that arrests were up and illegal crossings were down at the Southern border since Congress passed the border security bill in 2010. He wondered if she thought the efforts were working and whether a tough local law was still necessary.

Comments

[tom high]

06:25 PM on 02/26/2012

Love you Jan. stay strong, and keep up the fight , wish you well!

[tom high]

06:21 PM on 02/26/2012

When are left wing ,liberals going to understand that illegal immigration is hurting this country, costing billions to tax payers.
Obama , selling America out for a vote, i pray he is not re elected.

[Gail Mokry Shoultes]

10:14 AM on 02/27/2012

and when do YOU realize, Tom High, that circulatory migration worked very well before big business got into the mix. Take a look at NAFTA, the corporations went south of the border to get cheaper labor. In the beginning it was good enough to attract people to the areas where the jobs were. THEN, the same corporations found out they could get even CHEAPER labor by leaving Mexico and going to China. NAFTA was supposed to help create a middle class in Mexico and instead left them with an inadequate number of jobs. Consequently, they come here for work, honest work, and are still lured by big corporations who need the cheap labor. Get off the brown people hate wagon and point your finger at the real perpetrators.

[Simokon]

01:53 AM on 03/01/2012

FYI..Obama has deported more illegal immigrants in his 3 years than Bush did in 8 years. In fact at one time Bush wanted to give them amnesty which of course encouraged thousands more to come to America to get in on the deal.

[tom high]

06:13 PM on 02/26/2012

This country is in need of immigration enforcement, cost to Americans 123 billion a year, in GA est. 400,000 criminals @ cost 2.1 billion a year.
ICE has done very little in the state of GA which allows the construction of schools, county, state buildings by these criminals, even after Fox 5 Atlanta ,Ga -Randy Travis did a follow up a year later showing nothing has changed.
BIG BEND , Texas –
This hardly seems a time the U.S. would be willing to allow people to cross the border legally from Mexico without a customs officer in sight. But in this rugged, West Texas terrain where wading across the shallow Rio Grande undetected too easy, federal authorities are touting a proposal to open an unmanned port of entry as a security upgrade.
By the spring, kiosks could open up in Big Bend allowing people from the Mexican town of Boquillas del Carmen to scan their identity documents and talk to a customs officer in another location, at least 100 miles away .
Obama recently assured El Salvador that the US would not deport 200,000 Salvadorans residing illegally in the United States. As the election nears, and the president looks to court Hispanic voters, he also created a new position of “public advocate” for illegal immigrants. His duties to advocate that millions circumvent, rather than follow, current federal law.With the implicit understanding that it is no longer a crime to illegally enter and reside in the United States.

[Alauda]

06:09 PM on 02/26/2012

She knows she is wrong, and can't defend her ideas. The crime and drug problems aren't due to immigration issues. We need to legalize drugs, and give everyone antiopiate vaccine. They are now working on one for cocaine. They legalized drugs in Spain after crime issues. They have a decrease in crime and addicts since 1983. The forbidden fruit is taken away. This will stop crime. Prohibition created more criminals and alcoholics. Funny, the mafia kept Republicans in to keep Prohibition alive. Brewer's forebearers were immigrants from England and Norway. Immigrants make our world go around. Is it possible she is getting money from sources who want to keep particular immigrants(Latinos) out and profit from keeping drugs illegal? Who funds her campaigns?

[vpman]

02:07 PM on 02/26/2012

I am a Republican Teabagger so I am right. You are Democrat so you are wrong. THis is the impression I have of her. Being a big mouth bully and not want to defend her views is typical TB behavior. I thin she should be required to attend and defend her views. She just does not want to be in a spotlight she can not control such a Fox News.

[kiran1207]

11:14 AM on 02/26/2012

brewer supporters are pathetic to come spend their free time attacking libs on a lib website I mean shouldn't u go suclimbaughballs right about now??

[Eddie Martinez]

10:17 AM on 02/26/2012

Aww come Brewer, testify on the Hill

[Cacey]

10:04 AM on 02/26/2012

I also agree with posters focusing on appearance rather than substance but I take issue with several of those defending Jan Brewer this morning. To those who forget or overlook the constant beating Speaker Pelosi has taken from Conservatives, join me in halting these attacks from both sides. To those blaming HP and other media for intentionally chosing unflattering photos of the Governor, I challenge them to find flattering photos. This is what the lady looks like! Christie is overweight, the President is Black and Brewer is wrinkled. Live with it.

[kiran1207]

11:09 AM on 02/26/2012

u deal with it! it's called freedom of speech it's not radical violent speak, it's jokes!

[Cacey]

09:46 AM on 02/26/2012

Hit her with a subpoena for Contempt of Congress.

[tmosco]

07:50 AM on 02/26/2012

This report is so Lib Slanted .Whats the matter Huff you could not find a better picture of her?
I notice you do that alot with all of the folks you don't like.
The comments I might say are also very full of Hate.But I guess thats typical of you folks on the Left.

[kiran1207]

11:10 AM on 02/26/2012

right right the righty ppl are never full of hate, just ask gabby giffords!!

[kiran1207]

11:19 AM on 02/26/2012

it's typical of folks to the right to take a gun on ppl and start shooting eg Jared lee loughner.

[Captain Ron]

02:02 AM on 02/26/2012

Ah, the intellectual post where most of the comments are about an old lady's looks. Be proud libs. She probably looks better than your mother.

[kiran1207]

11:11 AM on 02/26/2012

brewer is yo mama ! brainless twit

[kiran1207]

11:30 AM on 02/26/2012

why r u spending your free time on huff po as a super user, ha ha! u must be scared of black potus so much that u have a lot hatred u need to unleash!! so funny!

[Captain Ron]

12:37 PM on 02/26/2012

I voted for Obama youass, now get a real keyboard.

[Ricinaustin]

12:11 AM on 02/26/2012

She looks like a leather faced muppet with dentures

[Stussy321]

09:10 PM on 02/25/2012

Without someone sitting next to her to guide her along with what to say she would have no clue how to defend against any topic. She is not a very bright person.

[Oonagh]

10:29 PM on 02/25/2012

She is clueless...

[Muzzle Me]

04:42 PM on 02/25/2012

One would think she would want to come to Washington to show off her face lift.

[kiran1207]

03:40 PM on 02/25/2012

brewer and those who support her are racists, insecure and jealous.

[kiran1207]

11:19 AM on 02/26/2012

I don't respect your kind.

[kiran1207]

11:21 AM on 02/26/2012

no gorah u are the jealous insecure ppl , I don't feel jealous or insecure about myself that I need to blame my problems on minorities.