Immigration raid doesn't materialize at meeting

WASHINGTON -- A Republican presidential candidate on Tuesday called for a federal immigration raid at a meeting in the U.S. Capitol hosted by the Senate's No. 2 Democrat.

No one from Immigration and Customs Enforcement showed up despite GOP Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado's call, Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin of Illinois said afterward.

"His hatred for people who are immigrants is boundless," Durbin said.

Tancredo issued a news release saying he had called federal immigration officials to warn them that illegal immigrants might show up at Durbin's meeting promoting the DREAM Act.

That bill would create a path to legality for illegal immigrants who plan to attend college or join the military and who came to the United States with their families before they turned 16.

"Just because these illegal aliens are being used for political gain doesn't mean they get immunity from the law," Tancredo said.

Even if immigration officials had showed up, the three immigrant children at his meeting have been allowed to stay in the country temporarily by the Homeland Security Department, Durbin said.

"We looked at this ahead of time because I don't want to put these children in danger," he said.

The Senate will vote on the DREAM Act on Wednesday, Durbin said.