GOP leaders eye new family separations bill

Compromise with Dems likely needed to pass legislation.

Struggling WASHINGTON — to find the votes to pass a sweeping immigration overhaul, House Republicans are narrowing on a slimmed down bill to stem the crisis of separating immigrant families at the border.

But even that more modest measure hit uncertainty Monday. President Donald Trump rejected one top idea — adding more immigration judges — insisting it would only lead to graft even though supporters say the step could help expedite the logjam of claims that can prolong detentions.

With Congress wavering on the next moves, it’s uncertain if lawmakers will be able to swiftly act on any bills to address the border crisis despite an outpouring of public concern over reports of immigrant children being separated from their parents.

“We want a system where, when people come in illegally, they have to go out,” Trump said Monday during an event at the White House. “A nice simple system that works.”

House Republicans were set to meet today behind closed doors to map out their options for taking action before lawmakers leave town at the end of the week for the Fourth of July holiday recess.

Many Republicans are eager to address the border crisis and distance themselves from the Trump administration’s policy that has resulted in more than 2,300 migrant children being separated from their parents.

Even though the president signed an executive order last week reversing the situation, lawmakers heading into a midterm election year want to be able to show constituents back home they voted to end it. Some 500 minors have been reunited so far, officials said.

“I don’t know why we wouldn’t vote for a bill that keeps families together,” said Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas.

Senate Republicans have proposed legislation that would lift rules that prevent children from being held longer than 20 days in custody. It would add 200 immigration judges to more quickly process the claims.

But Trump has repeatedly dismissed the need for more judges, and did so again Monday.

“You know what it leads? It leads to graft,” Trump said. “It leads to a lot of other things.”

Still, senators soldiered on trying to broker a compromise. Late Monday, Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas was meeting with a top Democrat on immigration issues, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., who has drafted an alternative approach.

With the Senate’s narrow 51-seate GOP majority, a compromise with Democrats would likely be needed to reach the 60-vote threshold usually required to advance legislation. But resolution seemed difficult.