House Immigration Bill Drafter: I Don't Know What Everything Means in My Bill

A Republican member of the Gang of 7 in the House acknowledged on Friday that there were things in the comprehensive immigration bill he is helping to draft that even he did not understand. 

Rep. John Carter (R-TX), while saying the House bill would have border security “triggers” without offering specifics, acknowledged, “There are things in the bill that I don’t know what they mean because I’m not an immigration lawyer.”

Carter’s comment emphasizes how difficult it is for legislators to not only read the bill but to fully understand what they are voting for. 

After the Senate passed its immigration bill 68-32 on Thursday, the immigration battle goes to the House, where seven Representatives are working on the legislation. 

Carter is drafting the bill with Republican Reps. Sam Johnson (R-TX) and Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) and four Democrats–Reps. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), Xavier Becerra (D-CA), John Yarmuth (R-KY), and Zoe Lofgren (D-CA).

Carter said the group expects to finish the drafting the bill shortly after July 4th.