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A4 U.S. NEWS
Monday 18 June 2018

Republicans risking conservative backlash over immigration

By STEVE PEOPLES as the GOP establishment's
NEW YORK (AP) — The push favorite in one of the top
toward immigration votes Senate races. "I try not get
in the House is intensifying swayed by what the emo-
the divide among Republi- tions are or the pressure. I
cans on one of the party's really try to look at the poli-
most animating issues and cy issues."
fueling concerns that a vot- Kelli Ward, one of McSal-
er backlash could cost the ly's main opponents in the
GOP control of the House Arizona Senate primary on
in November. Aug. 28, was more scathing
To many conservatives, the in her assessment.
compromise immigration "Compromising on the rule
proposal released this past of law to grant amnesty to
week by House Speaker millions of illegal immigrants
Paul Ryan, R-Wis., is little is the wrong path to take,"
more than "amnesty." she said of the House plan.
One tea party group de- "Congress should focus on
scribed the Republican border security and stop
plan as "the final betray- talking about amnesty as a
al." Fox Business host Lou solution."
Dobbs, who is close to In Pennsylvania, Rep. Lou
President Donald Trump, Barletta, the Republican
tweeted Friday that Ryan is The Capitol is seen in Washington, Friday, June 15, 2018. The push toward immigration votes in the nominee against Demo-
House is intensifying the divide among Republicans on one of the party’s most animating issues __
"trying to open our borders and fueling concerns that a voter backlash could cost the party control of the House in November. cratic Sen. Bob Casey took
even more and give illegal Associated Press an equally aggressive ap-
immigrants the biggest am- proach against his own
nesty in American history." sought by the White House. "moderate" immigration detained immigrants being party's immigration plan.
Passage of the bill could "While the bill contains bill, even though the ver- separated from their chil- "I hate it," he told The Asso-
alienate conservatives and some positive provisions, sion written by House lead- dren. ciated Press. "What does it
depress turnout at a time including full funding for ership is based on his own Trump has tried to blame accomplish? It's amnesty."
when enthusiasm among the border wall and clos- priorities. White House offi- Democrats for his own ad- Barletta said he has com-
Democrats is high. Yet scut- ing loopholes in current law cials later said the president ministration's policy, tweet- passion for the children
tling the bill could turn off that sustain illegal border had misspoken and didn't ing Saturday that they caught up in the immigra-
independent voters, an es- surges, it is still a mass am- realize he was being asked "can fix their forced family tion debate. But he said
pecially important bloc for nesty," said RJ Hauman, of about the compromise bill. breakup at the Border by he wouldn't support an im-
House Republicans com- the conservative Federa- The meeting is scheduled working with Republicans migration bill unless it also
peting in dozens of districts tion for American Immigra- for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, the on new legislation, for a blocked employers from
that Democrat Hillary Clin- tion Reform. person said. change!" hiring immigrants who are
ton won in the 2016 presi- "This bill hardly fulfills Presi- Skittish conservative law- Facing a national uproar, in the U.S. illegally, eliminat-
dential election. dent Trump's bold promise makers have indicated House GOP leaders in- ed "sanctuary cities" and
"The GOP's in a tough spot," to fix immigration, and sure there's little chance they cluded a provision in the ended family-based migra-
said Republican pollster isn't a winning message for would support the current immigration proposal that tion.
Frank Luntz. "The hardcore the GOP in the midterms," plan unless Trump were to would require families to be Barletta said his party
Trump voter has a different Hauman said. give it a full embrace. kept together for as long as should "absolutely" fear a
point of view than the ev- Trump will meet with House "House Republicans are not they are in the custody of political backlash from its
er-important independent Republicans next week to going to take on immigra- the Homeland Security De- base this fall should Repub-
voter, and there doesn't discuss the issue just days tion without the support partment. licans push through the cur-
seem to be a middle after his comments during and endorsement of Presi- The proposed fix won ap- rent compromise.
ground." an impromptu Fox News in- dent Trump," said Rep. Pat- proval from moderate Other high-profile Repub-
The draft legislation, result- terview on the White House rick McHenry, R-N.C., the House Republicans locked lican candidates avoided
ing from intense negotia- driveway nearly derailed GOP's chief deputy vote in difficult re-election bat- questions about the im-
tions between moderates the planned House vote, counter. tles, but not from Repub- migration plan altogether,
and conservatives, includes according to a House GOP The politics of the immigra- lican Senate candidates highlighting the political
a path to citizenship for an official who spoke on con- tion debate have grown running competitive races sensitivity of the issue.
estimated 1.8 million young dition of anonymity to dis- more heated since the in GOP-leaning states. Former White House coun-
immigrants in the country cuss the plans ahead of an administration adopted a None spoke in support of selor Steve Bannon lobbied
illegally. The plan includes official announcement. "zero tolerance" approach the bill. against the compromise
$25 billion for a wall along Trump had said in the inter- at the Southern border. "We're studying the propos- in private meetings with
the U.S.-Mexico border and view that he wouldn't sign The policy is leading to an al," said Arizona Rep. Mar- House conservatives earlier
other security measures what was described as the increase in the number of tha McSally, who is viewed this past week.q