Schumer: Give me a year to pass immigration reform

WASHINGTON - Give me a year to pass national comprehensive immigration reform, Sen. Charles Schumer told Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer Thursday in a letter asking her to postpone enacting her state's tough new immigration law.

Schumer, the New York Democrat in charge of the Senate's immigration legislation, also asked Brewer to publicly call on her state's two Republican U.S. senators, John McCain and Jon Kyl, to work with him to pass a bipartisan federal law.

Schumer said in an interview he was responding to Brewer's repeated explanation that she signed the Arizona bill, which goes into effect at the end of July, to prod Washington politicians to stop talking and start action on legislation now.

"So I say to her, 'You're right,' " Schumer said.

But he said he needed her help getting McCain and Kyl to work with him on his bill. He said the measure is tough on border enforcement but also stops the lure of a U.S. job because a biometric ID card would be required to get work.

"Unless you stop employment for illegal immigrants, you will not stop the flow," he said.

Brewer did not comment or respond to queries.

Schumer made his overture a day after President Barack Obama signaled he does not expect an immigration bill to be passed in this session of Congress.

Meanwhile, a coalition of civil rights groups and major labor unions yesterday announced a boycott of Arizona. "We are calling for a boycott because this law will blow open the door to increased racial profiling, wrongful arrests, and other discrimination," said Janet Murguía, president of the National Council of La Raza.

The Arizona law authorizes local law enforcement officers to ask for citizenship papers if they suspect the person they've stopped is an illegal immigrant.

Schumer wrote that he opposes the law not only because it is "wrong-hearted" and "likely unconstitutional," but also "because it will almost certainly fail to reduce illegal immigration into Arizona."