GOP-dominated US House rejects Trump-backed immigration bill
The US House of Representatives has turned down a Republican “compromise” bill on immigration despite an eleventh-hour endorsement by President Donald Trump.
The GOP-dominated House voted 301-121 against the far-ranging bill on Wednesday, a move that further revealed deep divisions between Republicans over Trump’s immigration policies.
All Democrats and 112 Republicans voted against the measure, which proposed providing long-term protections to Dreamers—thousands of immigrants brought to the United States illegally as children. The bill also sought to deal with an ongoing crisis over the separation of children of illegal immigrants and their families at the border.
The bill would have authorized $25 billion for Trump’s controversial wall along the US border with Mexico, which he insists would curb illegal immigration.
Another key aspect of the deal was that it would restrict family-based immigration into the US. Overall, the measure tried to boost Trump’s “zero tolerance” policy by significantly reducing legal immigration levels to the US.
“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,” Trump wrote in a tweet. “Passage will show that we want strong borders & security while the Dems want open borders = crime. win!”
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
The vote, which had already been postponed twice due to strong opposition to the bill, allows the House to debate another immigration measure that is more narrowly aimed at addressing family separations.
That legislation also faces difficulties in Congress and is expected to come up for vote sometime this week.
Analysts say the tally empowers GOP conservatives make a stronger case on the much-debated issue. Last week, the House turned down a more conservative GOP package that 193 Republicans voted for it.
The main challenge facing the Republicans, however, is strong opposition from the Democratic side of the isle.
Despite having a decisive majority in the House, a one-sided GOP stands no chance to pass through the Senate, where they hold only a narrow majority over Democrats.
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