DREAM Act supporters try, fail, to get Hatch’s ear

Murray • Raymi Gutierrez, dressed in a white graduation gown and mortarboard cap, stood Monday outside the campaign office of Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch trying to hold back the tears.

“I just wanted a few seconds of his time and he couldn’t give that,” she said, almost sobbing. “But I am thankful he was able to start this.”

The 22-year-old student at the University of Utah was talking about the DREAM (Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors) Act, a piece of federal legislation sponsored by Hatch a decade ago that would grant a path to citizenship for children brought to the United States by undocumented parents.

Gutierrez was joined by about a dozen supporters of the act Monday as they tried to gain an audience with the Utah senator on what they said was the 10th anniversary of Hatch introducing the legislation. The bill was actually introduced on Aug. 1, 2001. DREAM Act supporters showed up at the office during a scheduled open house Hatch was hosting at his campaign headquarters as he continued to ramp up his re-election bid.

But the students never got to meet Hatch, who circulated through the office shaking hands with supporters; the students were deftly turned around by campaign manager Dave Hansen to meet other people just before the senator approached the group.

Hansen also said the campaign had “alerted” Murray police to the planned presence of the DREAM Act supporters — though he said he wasn’t expecting so many police to show up. At any given time, there were at least three patrol cars spotted in the parking lot of the building and at least a half-dozen officers inside.

The police prevented the DREAM activists from bringing in cupcakes they had made. However, they did serenade the crowd in the office with two renditions of “Happy Birthday” to commemorate the bill’s anniversary.

Diego Ibanez, wearing a black graduation gown, said he wasn’t surprised they didn’t get to meet Hatch.
Story continues below

Who’s LDS? Who’s Republican? Campaign flier stirs up SLC west-siders
Published Aug 8, 2011 06:40:12PM 16 Comments
Longtime Huntsman aide named to campaign spot
Published Aug 4, 2011 12:32:34PM 0 Comments
Huntsman group raises $211K, spends most of it
Published Aug 4, 2011 12:32:34PM 0 Comments

“I didn’t think they’d let us in the building at all,” Ibanez said. “But it shouldn’t have been that hard for him to see us. Politicians will be politicians.”

However, Hatch said he was willing to meet with the them after the open house was over at 6 p.m, but none of the activists took him up on the offer.

Hatch said he remained supportive of the DREAM Act — though he said other things have to happen first.

“I believe you cannot pass DREAM Act legislation until you seal the border,” Hatch said.

Hatch had been a reliable, regular supporter as it came up for votes in various forms throughout the years. However, in December, he skipped a vote on the DREAM Act in the Senate to attend a grandson’s graduation. He said he would’ve voted against it had he been present.

At the time, he called the vote a cynical ploy by Democrats to curry favor with their base. But the six-term senator, who will likely be facing a Republican challenge — possibly from Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah — has been taking positions that appeal to the tea party, including tougher stances on immigration.

In a meeting with The Salt Lake Tribune editorial board about a month ago, Chaffetz called out Hatch on the issue.

“Look at the DREAM Act. I mean, he sponsored it. Then he said he wasn’t going to support it. Then it came up for a vote, and he missed the vote. So everybody’s offended,” Chaffetz said.

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politic...dream.html.csp

We should have a Dream Act 10th anniversary party

He's a Republican running for reelection in a conservative state. He'll never support any type of immigration reform under those circumstances.

how times have changed! ten years ago he was one of the original sponsor of the bill