Senate hearing on immigration reform shows heated politics

seatsA Senate Judiciary committee that was held on April 22nd in regards to immigration legislation served as a demonstration that the pathway to immigration reform in the United States is likely to continue to be a difficult one to traverse.  Twenty-three people testified during the session, all of whom had specific questions regarding the brand new bill.

Things turned heated when immigration reform supporter and Tea Party Republican, Rand Paul, called on lawmakers in the Senate to hold off until lawmakers could determine whether or not the Boston bombing suspects were aided by failures in the system.

This idea resulted in tempers flaring in the Senate, with numerous top Democrats accusing those opposed to comprehensive US immigration reform of exploiting the Boston bombings tragedy as a tactic to try and slow or even entirely derail support for the new bill.  Patrick Leahy, the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, was one of those who said that the events of April 15th were being used by some Republicans to try and scupper the legislation.

“Last week, opponents began to exploit the Boston Marathon bombing,” Leahy commented during his opening remarks.  “I urge restraint in that regard.  Refugees and asylum seekers have enriched the fabric of this country from our founding.  Let no one be so cruel as to use these heinous acts of two young men last week to derail the dreams and futures of millions of hardworking people.”