G.O.P. Congressman’s Remarks Undermine Party’s Immigration Efforts

By ASHLEY PARKER, NYT

An attempt on Tuesday by House Republicans to show that they were at least somewhat open to an overhaul of immigration laws was overshadowed by comments from Representative Steve King of Iowa, who said that some undocumented immigrants had “calves the size of cantaloupes because they’re hauling 75 pounds of marijuana across the desert.”

In an interview with Newsmax, a conservative Web site, last week, Mr. King expressed skepticism about proposals to provide a path to citizenship for people, often called “Dreamers,” who were brought to the United States illegally as young children.

He acknowledged that some Dreamers were valedictorians, then added: “But they aren’t all valedictorians. They weren’t all brought in by their parents.

“For every one who’s a valedictorian, there’s another 100 out there that they weigh 130 pounds, and they’ve got calves the size of cantaloupes because they’re hauling 75 pounds of marijuana across the desert,” Mr. King, an outspoken foe of an immigration overhaul, told Newsmax. “Those people would be legalized with the same act.”

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