House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) now wants to make it more difficult to deport illegal immigrant children from Mexico.
After indicating that she would support changing a 2008 law to make it easier for the federal government to deport illegal immigrant children from countries other than Mexico and Canada, Pelosi, under pressure from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and particularly Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), changed her mind on Wednesday. Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) and Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) are sponsoring the bill to change the 2008 law.
Pelosi told The New York Times, “I do think the bill that was introduced is exactly the wrong way to go. Is the only immigration bill we’re going to have one that hurts children?”
Her spokesman said Pelosi wanted to go even further the other way, so the country treats Mexicans like Central Americans are being treated today.
“Leader Pelosi opposes this legislation, as it is not in furtherance of due process for these children,” a Pelosi spokesman told the Los Angeles Times. “We should change the law to treat Mexican children the same as we now treat children from Central America. But if any changes to the 2008 law are made, they must ensure due process for these children.”
Gutierrez reportedly indicated the Congressional Hispanic Caucus would not vote to approve the $3.7 billion in emergency funds President Barack Obama requested if the law was changed to make it easier to deport illegal immigrant children from Central America.
A recent Pew poll found that a majority of Americans want the deportations of illegal immigrants accelerated.