Establishment GOP Tries Amnesty Bill, Gets Gloriously Shot Down by Real Conservatives
Once again, the D.C. establishment — including many Republicans — tried to push through legislation granting amnesty to illegal immigrants Wednesday.
Once again, the effort failed, thanks to 112 GOP House members who rejected Speaker Paul Ryan‘s “compromise” bill.
The legislation would have provided a pathway to citizenship for 1.8 million illegal immigrants — those who were brought into this country as children, the so-called Dreamers.
President Donald Trump indicated Friday that GOP lawmakers were “wasting their time” by trying to pass an immigration bill.
Republicans should stop wasting their time on Immigration until after we elect more Senators and Congressmen/women in November. Dems are just playing games, have no intention of doing anything to solves this decades old problem. We can pass great legislation after the Red Wave!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 22, 2018
On Wednesday, however, the president tweeted his support for the compromise bill — called Goodlatte II for its sponsor, Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Virginia).
HOUSE REPUBLICANS SHOULD PASS THE STRONG BUT FAIR IMMIGRATION BILL, KNOWN AS GOODLATTE II, IN THEIR AFTERNOON VOTE TODAY, EVEN THOUGH THE DEMS WON’T LET IT PASS IN THE SENATE. PASSAGE WILL SHOW THAT WE WANT STRONG BORDERS & SECURITY WHILE THE DEMS WANT OPEN BORDERS = CRIME. WIN!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 27, 2018
Trump called the measure “strong but fair,” and it would have provided $25 billion toward his promised wall on the border with Mexico.
His endorsement wasn’t enough to put it over the top, however, as amnesty foes stood together to stop it. The bill was defeated on a 121-301 vote.
Not a single Democrat voted for the legislation. They’re hoping immigration will be a winning issue for them in the November midterm elections.
The Goodlatte II bill paired amnesty for Dreamers with funding for the wall and other provisions strengthening border security and interior enforcement.
Last week, the House took up Goodlatte I, a more conservative bill that didn’t include the amnesty. It also fell short but by a narrower margin — 193-231.
Both bills would have allowed Dreamers to remain in the country indefinitely with non-immigrant legal status, but they featured different renewal periods (three years under Goodlatte I and six under Goodlatte II).
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) was among the members of the Freedom Caucus who voted against Goodlatte II on Wednesday. He urged the House leadership to get behind the conservative bill.
Leadership told us that the conservative immigration bill would only get 150 or 160 votes. When they put it on the floor in front of God and everybody, it got 193.
We're close. We just need House Leadership to push for this.https://t.co/RKX6KC4OoY
— Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) June 26, 2018
We won’t hold our breath waiting for that to happen.
In every campaign year, Republicans across the country declare they’ll be tough on illegal immigration and oppose amnesty, knowing that border security is an issue that resonates with GOP voters.
When they get to Washington, however, many of those same Republicans get sucked into the swamp and cast their lot with the establishment.
Let’s remember their names come Election Day.
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