Tancredo: immigration reform may push him into presidential race
June 12, 2005

NASHUA, N.H. --U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo says he is so dissatisfied with the pace and direction of immigration reform, he is considering running for president to deal with it himself.
"If no one is willing to pick up the banner... yeah, I'll run," the Colorado Republican said Saturday during a visit to the state with the earliest presidential primary.

"Though I say that with a great deal of trepidation. It seems like a daunting task. But we need to get a president in there who will support this," he said. "I don't know what else to do."

Once, New Hampshire might have seemed an unusual backdrop for taking a stand on illegal immigration. But recently the state has been the focus of heated debate on just that issue.

Citing a need to uphold national security, several police chiefs have been using criminal trespassing laws to press charges against illegal aliens found in their communities.

The tactic, which has been challenged in court, has drawn praise and criticism from around the country.

Tancredo first visited New Hampshire in February, when he gave an award to New Ipswich police Chief Garrett Chamberlain, calling the chief a national hero for charging illegal immigrants with trespassing.

Tancredo said the reason for his visit to New Hampshire, and eventually to Iowa, is to get a leader in the White House who understands the threat illegal immigrants pose to the country's security.

He said federal prisons overflow with illegal immigrants, some of whom aim to hard people.

"And they need to be found before it is too late. They're coming here to kill you, and you, and me, and my grandchildren," he said, pointing at people in the audience. "It's just despicable."