Sides select immigration battles

Resolution extolling ICE approved 244-35; 133 Democrats vote ‘present’

WASHINGTON — Republicans and Democrats competed to make immigration an election-year issue on their own terms as the GOP pushed symbolic legislation through the House Wednesday extolling a federal law enforcement agency that some liberals have proposed abolishing.

The measure, which changes no laws, represents a Republican drive to take advantage of an earlier Democratic bill erasing the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. The GOP resolution approved Wednesday says attempts to eliminate ICE would let “dangerous criminal aliens” stay in the U.S. and insult the agency’s officers.

The Democratic bill wiping out the agency had nine sponsors but was shunned by others who worried it risked estranging moderate voters.

Abolishing ICE has become a rallying cry for the party’s liberal wing, including Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and upstart House candidate Alexandria Ocasio-cortez, who stunned a 10-term congressman in a New York Democratic primary.

“Any other vote than a yes vote is for open borders,” the No. 3 House GOP leader, Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana, said of his party’s resolution praising the immigration agency. House Majority Leader Kevin Mccarthy, R-calif., said the effort to eliminate ICE was being pushed by “the new socialist Democratic Party.”

Democrats said Republicans were trying to distract voters from President Donald Trump and his nowdropped policy of separating migrant children from their parents.

Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., said the GOP resolution was “a meaningless political stunt to change the subject from the international and domestic shame unleashed on us by President Trump.”

The GOP resolution acclaiming ICE was approved 244-35, with 133 Democrats voting “present” to protest the measure. All but one voting Republican backed the measure along with 18 Democrats, many from competitive districts.