Colorado Congressman touts immigration reform, may run for president

A Colorado congressman pushing for immigration reform is in Iowa, and he says he’ll launch a presidential campaign if no other candidate takes up the cause. Republican Congressman Tom Tancredo is appearing at a breakfast reception this morning in Dubuque. “Porous borders allow people into this country who have things on their mind other than just trying to get a job. They are coming here to do very bad things. They are coming to kill you and me and my kids and yours,” Tancredo says. “If we don’t control our own borders, then we can’t possibly hope to really be terribly successful in this ‘War on Terror.'” Tancredo says unfortunately, the Bush Administration has failed to seal-up the borders. Tancredo says it’s because many U-S businesses are “hooked” on the cheap labor provided by illegal immigrants. He says that ready supply of “illegal” workers is having an effect on legal U-S residents. “People in the lower income brackets have not had an actual increase in their income in over 10 years. In real dollar terms, it’s decreased. That’s never happened before and there’s a reason,” Tancredo says. “it’s supply and demand.” Tancredo says anyone who is a candidate for president should address the issue, but if they equivocate, he will step in himself. “It is imperitive that we actually have a chief executive who is willing to actually confront this issue head on,” Tancredo says. “If we can get no one else to take up their banner with their heart and with their lips, then I will (run for president).” Tancredo was in Davenport Thursday night and made stops in Cedar Rapids and Cedar Falls Friday.