Email us for help
Loading...
Premium support
Log Out
Our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy have changed. We think you'll like them better this way.
Vulnerable House Republicans craft an immigration plan
BY KATE IRBY
kirby@mcclatchy.com
March 19, 2018 01:00 PM
Updated 2 hours 1 minute ago
WASHINGTON
Republicans represent 23 congressional districts that Democrat Hillary Clinton won in 2016. Thirteen of those Republicans are banding together to push their own plan to force action on immigration.
It’s probably going nowhere, meaning the plan’s purpose is to help protect these vulnerable GOP lawmakers politically as Republicans and Democrats remain stuck over how to tackle immigration issues.
Darrell West, vice president of governance studies at the Brookings Institution, a nonpartisan think tank, said Republicans are simply giving themselves political cover.
“They can say they made an effort, then blame Congress as a whole for not taking action,” West said.
The vulnerable Republicans’ plan, introduced by Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Calif., with 38 other Republicans Monday, would have the House consider a series of immigration bills.
Two of the bills – the DREAM Act and the USA Act – have been backed by both Democrats and Republicans.
The USA Act provides a path to legal citizenship for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients while also providing more for immigration enforcement policies. The DREAM Act provides a path to legal citizenship without increased immigration enforcement.
