GOP risks backlash

The push towards immigration votes in the House of Representatives is intensifying the divide among Republicans on one of the party’s key issues and fuelling concerns that a voter backlash could cost the GOP control of the House in November.

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 independents.

“The GOP’s in a tough spot,” said Republican pollster Frank Luntz. “The hardcore Trump voter has a different point of view than the everimportant 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 immigrants in the country illegally. The plan includes US$25 billion for a wall along the US-Mexico border.

President Donald Trump will meet House Republicans on Wednesday NZT to discuss the issue.

The politics of the debate have grown more heated since the Administration adopted a “zero tolerance” approach.

Trump has tried to blame Democrats for his own policy, tweeting 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 Homeland Security. 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 GOPleaning states.