Republicans delay second vote on immigration bill
‘Compromise deal’ postponed until next week to secure support
WASHINGTON — Republican leaders in the US House of Representatives on Thursday were forced to twice delay a vote on a “moderate” immigration bill amid chaos over the White House practice of separating families who illegally cross the US border.
Following the failure of a vote on a “hardline” immigration bill, with 193 votes in favor and 231 against, earlier in the day, House Speaker Paul Ryan told lawmakers that the second voting for a “moderate” bill on immigration would be postponed until Friday.
However, after a two-hour closed-door meeting of House Republicans on Thursday, Ryan said the vote will not happen until next week, in the hope that Republicans, given more time, can modify the bill again so as to secure 218 votes to pass the legislation.
The failed “hardline” bill would have provided funding for a border wall, ended the diversity visa lottery program, limited family-based visas, created an agriculture guestworker program requiring employers to use the E-Verify program and allowed the federal government to cut funding for sanctuary cities. Every Democrat and 41 Republicans voted against it.
Under the so-called “moderate” or “compromise” bill, President Trump’s government will stop the forced migrant family separation, get $25 billion to build a wall along the US-Mexico border, and allow up to 1.8 million Dreamers, the recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival program, to apply for US citizenship.
Both bills were backed by the White House, whose “zero-tolerance” policy against illegal immigration has come under fire both at home and abroad over the forced separation of children from their parents entering the United States illegally.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, nearly 2,000 children were separated from their families after illegally crossing the US border in April and May.
However, about 500 children have been reunited since May, a senior Trump administration official said on Thursday, although it was unclear how many were still being detained with their families.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon will make space available on military bases for as many as 20,000 unaccompanied migrant children, said a spokesman.
A Pentagon memo to members of Congress said it has been asked to have the facilities available as early as July, through the end of the year.