By Stephen Dinan

February 23, 2012, 01:56 PM

Democrats have called on Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer to come testify before the Senate about her state's immigration law, which is slated for a Supreme Court hearing later this year.

Ms. Brewer, who got into a finger-wagging exchange with President Obama earlier this year, has championed the law, which allows police to question the immigration status of those they engage in their regular duties.

In a letter to the governor, Sen. Charles Schumer, New York Democrat and chairman of the Senate's immigration subcommittee, said the federal government has expanded the presence of Border Patrol agents in Arizona, and said he believes the situation is improving — contrary to what Ms. Brewer argues.

"As you frequently ask the President to visit the southern border to discuss border security, we expect that you will be eager to engage in a productive dialogue with the congressional committee responsible for acting upon any border security recommendations you provide," Mr. Schumer wrote in a letter inviting the governor to appear.

The Obama administration sued to stop Arizona's law, and lower courts have blocked most of it from taking effect. The Supreme Court has said it will take the case this year.

On Wednesday Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney called Arizona's law "a model" for the rest of the country during a debate in Arizona.

And he and the rest of the GOP presidential field have vowed to drop the federal government's lawsuit against the state.

Democrats demand Ariz. governor testify on immigration - Washington Times