House Dems to Introduce Immigration Legislation on Day 2 of Gov't Shutdown

On the second day of the federal government shutdown on Wednesday, Democrats in the House will introduce comprehensive immigration legislation to re-ignite the push for an immigration bill that President Barack Obama called his “number-one priority.”

According to Politico, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Reps. Xavier Becerra (D-CA) and Ruben Hinojosa (D-TX), the chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, “have been working on a comprehensive piece of legislation in recent weeks.”

House Democrats reportedly want the Senate’s comprehensive immigration bill, which Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) spearheaded along with six other senators, without the border-security provisions that the Senate enacted.  Critics asserted that bill did not even have much teeth because the funding and enforcement provisions would not be guaranteed. 

Politico reported that Democrats like Reps. Joe Garcia (FL), Suzan DelBene (WA), Joaquin Castro (TX) and Jared Polis (CO) will join Pelosi in leading the charge on immigration reform. 

House Republicans have reportedly been working on various pieces of immigration legislation “beneath the radar” amidst the debate over the budget and Obamacare, and they have indicated that immigration reform would be next on the list of agenda items after the the budget debate is resolved.

Those opposed to amnesty, like Rep. Steve King (R-IA), have told conservatives to stay “ever vigilant” of House Republicans attempting to ultimately go to conference with the Senate on immigration, where many of the provisions of the Senate’s bill will likely win out. 

Because there are a considerable number of Republicans in the House opposed to immigration legislation, Republicans will likely need some Democrats to pass immigration bills. If both chambers go to conference on an immigration bill, at least 104 House Republicans may be open to supporting some type of pathway to legalization for the country’s illegal immigrants that may be in a final bill.