House immigration proposal highlights GOP divide

The Capitol is seen in Washington, Friday, June 15, 2018. The push toward immigration votes in the House is intensifying the divide among Republicans on one of the party's most animating issues __ and fueling concerns that a voter backlash could cost the party control of the House in November.  (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
The Capitol is seen in Washington, Friday, June 15, 2018. The push toward immigration votes in the House is intensifying the divide among Republicans on one of the party's most animating issues __ and fueling concerns that a voter backlash could cost the party control of the House in November. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

NEW YORK -- The push toward immigration votes in the House is intensifying the divide among Republicans on one of the party's most animating issues and fueling concerns that a voter backlash could cost the GOP control of the House in November.

To many conservatives, the compromise immigration proposal released last week by House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., is little more than "amnesty."

One tea party group described the Republican plan as "the final betrayal." Fox Business host Lou Dobbs, who is close to President Donald Trump, tweeted Friday that Ryan is "trying to open our borders even more and give illegal immigrants the biggest amnesty in American history."

The tension threatens to exacerbate the GOP's political challenges this fall.

Passage of the bill could alienate conservatives and depress turnout at a time when enthusiasm among Democrats is high. Yet scuttling the bill could turn off independent voters, an especially important bloc for House Republicans competing in dozens of districts that Democrat Hillary Clinton won in the 2016 presidential election.

"The GOP's in a tough spot," said Republican pollster Frank Luntz. "The hardcore Trump voter has a different point of view than the ever-important independent voter, and there doesn't seem to be a middle ground."

The draft legislation, resulting from intense negotiations between moderates and conservatives, includes a path to citizenship for an estimated 1.8 million young people in the country illegally. The plan also includes $25 billion for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Trump will meet with House Republicans Tuesdayto discuss the plan, according to two House Republican aides who requested anonymity ahead of a formal announcement.

Conservative lawmakers have indicated there's little chance they would support the current plan unless Trump were to give it a full embrace.

[U.S. immigration: Data visualization of selected immigration statistics, U.S. border map]

"House Republicans are not going to take on immigration without the support and endorsement of President Trump," said Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., the GOP's chief deputy vote counter.

The politics of the immigration debate have grown more heated since the administration adopted a "zero tolerance" approach at the southern border. The policy is leading to an increase in the number of detained people being separated from their children.

Trump has tried to blame Democrats for his own administration's policy, tweeting Saturday that they "can fix their forced family breakup at the Border by working with Republicans on new legislation, for a change!"

Facing a national uproar, House GOP leaders included a provision in the immigration proposal that would require families to be kept together for as long as they are in the custody of the Homeland Security Department.

The proposed fix won approval from moderate House Republicans locked in difficult re-election battles, but not from Republican Senate candidates running competitive races in GOP-leaning states. None spoke in support of the bill.

"We're studying the proposal," said Rep. Martha McSally of Arizona, who is viewed as the GOP establishment's favorite in one of the top Senate races. "I try to not get swayed by what the emotions are or the pressure. I really try to look at the policy issues."

Kelli Ward, one of McSally's main opponents in the Arizona Senate primary Aug. 28, was more scathing in her assessment.

"Compromising on the rule of law to grant amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants is the wrong path to take," she said of the House plan. "Congress should focus on border security and stop talking about amnesty as a solution."

In Pennsylvania, Rep. Lou Barletta, the Republican nominee against Democratic Sen. Bob Casey, took an equally aggressive approach against his own party's immigration plan.

"I hate it," he said. "What does it accomplish? It's amnesty."

Barletta said he has compassion for the children caught up in the immigration debate. But he said he wouldn't support an immigration bill unless it also blocked employers from hiring people who are in the U.S. illegally, eliminated "sanctuary cities" and ended family-based migration.

Barletta said his party should "absolutely" fear a political backlash from its base this fall should Republicans push through the current compromise.

Other high-profile Republican candidates avoided questions about the immigration plan altogether, highlighting the political sensitivity of the issue.

Information for this article was contributed by Seung Min Kim and Mike DeBonis of The Washington Post.

A Section on 06/17/2018

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