Illegals debate far from hat dance

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Fliers proclaiming Maryland House Judiciary Committee Chairman Joseph F. Vallario Jr. as "wanted for aiding and abetting" illegal immigration were removed from a hearing earlier this month after he took offense.

The fliers, which depict Mr. Vallario, Prince George Democrat, wearing an ornate, Mexican-style sombrero, were denounced as racist by one legislator and legitimate free speech by others.

Delegate Victor R. Ramirez, another Prince George's Democrat who serves on the committee, called the flier "blatant racism."

"I'm hurt that people would resort to this type of action, rather than talk about the issues like grownups," said Mr. Ramirez, who was born in El Salvador. "The true colors of some of the bills' proponents came out."

Mr. Vallario brushed off the March 11 episode a day later, but was visibly angry during Tuesday's hearing about several immigration-related bills. After ordering the fliers removed, Mr. Vallario chided Delegates Warren E. Miller, Howard Republican, and Patrick L. McDonough, Baltimore County Republican, telling them they were fortunate he was even hearing their immigration-related legislation.

"We don't accept literature that tries to intimidate or harass people," said Mr. Vallario, who is of Italian heritage.

But the Republican delegates, who both sponsored bills to prohibit "sanctuary city" policies that bar local government employees and police officers from asking someone's immigration status, said they had nothing to do with the flier.

Susan Payne, a Montgomery County resident and executive director of the Maryland Coalition for Immigration Reform, submitted the fliers along with written testimony.

Miss Payne said the poster was "tongue-in-cheek" political humor. But after a six-hour wait to testify in support of bills that would target illegal immigration, Miss Payne was cut short in the midst of a heated discussion with Mr. Vallario.

A security officer was called, but Miss Payne walked out after refusing to answer committee members' questions because her "time was up." "Maybe at the next election, you'll be voted out and your time will be up," she yelled at Mr. Vallario as she left.