Sens. Harkin, Durbin set rally at Ames middle school

DES MOINES - Democratic U.S. Sens. Tom Harkin of Iowa and Dick Durbin of Illinois will host an immigration forum and news conference at Ames Middle School Friday.

The school, 3915 Mortensen Road, is in Iowa's 4th Congressional District, which is represented by Rep. Steve King, R-Kiron.

The 10 a.m. forum includes immigrants who were brought to the United States illegally as children. A news conference is scheduled for 11 a.m.

Durbin is the author of the DREAM Act and one of the members of the “Gang of Eight” senators that wrote the Senate immigration bill. Harkin is a supporter of the legislation.

The forum was announced last week following King's comments that for every young person who entered this country illegally who goes on to be valedictorian, there are 100 who are drug couriers, as evidenced by their cantaloupe-sized calf muscles.

Details of the forum, however, weren't released until Wednesday.