House to Take Up Immigration

On May 9, 2018 a group of Republican House members announced they would seek to force debate on immigration using a discharge petition.  Speaker Paul Ryan opposed the effort, but if the petition, introduced by U.S. Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-FL), had obtained 218 signatures, the House would, under a resolution by U.S. Rep. Jeff Denham (R-CA) (H.Res. 774), have taken up four bills addressing immigration and border security: the Securing America’s Future Act (H.R. 4760, the Goodlatte bill), the DREAM Act (H.R. 3440, the Roybal-Allard bill), the USA Act (H.R. 4796, a bipartisan bill introduced by Hurd), and an immigration bill of Speaker Paul Ryan’s choice.  The discharge petition fell short, but the House will vote on two immigration bills the week of June 18.

Democratic National Committee
June 13, 2018

DNC Statement on Republican Sabotage of DACA Legislation


DNC Chair Tom Perez released the following statement after Republican leaders sabotaged a bipartisan effort to bring legislation that would address DACA to the House floor:


“Let's be clear: these Republican proposals aren't to provide relief for Dreamers, they're an avenue for mass deportations and to stoke fear in communities. It’s been more than nine months now since President Trump ended DACA. And for nine months, GOP leaders have chosen partisan obstruction instead of working with Democrats to protect DACA recipients and find a sensible, permanent solution to our broken immigration system.


“Families are being torn apart, children are being detained, lives have been shattered, and immigrants who know only the United States as their home have been forced to live in a cruel state of limbo with no end in sight. This must end now.


“Democrats believe that diversity and compassion are our nation’s greatest strengths. We believe in fixing our immigration system, not uprooting lives and shattering families. And we’re ready to work on a bipartisan solution that actually protects Dreamers and lives up to our values as a nation.”


The bills Republicans will put forward next week are NOT DACA fixes.


The first bill, the hard-line Goodlatte bill, is a draconian anti-immigrant wish-list.


New York Times: “Instead, the House is most likely to vote on one hard-line immigration measure backed by President Trump and conservatives — and another more moderate compromise bill that was still being drafted, according to people familiar with the talks.”


The alternative, which is expected to include Trump’s proposals, is also expected to be stocked with anti-immigrant provisions.


Vox: “On Tuesday, moderate Republicans and conservatives met with Ryan to hash out some process questions on the ‘compromise’ bill. The compromise follows a framework set forward by the White House: legal status for DREAMers, border security, an end to the diversity visa lottery, and curbing family-based legal immigration.”


Politico: “Conservatives, however, want any deal to mandate that all employers verify the legal status of their workers, known as E-verify. They’ve also pushed for a more stringent asylum system, which immigration opponents believe has been routinely abused. Moderates appear to have accepted the tougher asylum standards as well as a handful of additions put forth by conservatives over the weekend.”