BORDER BILL UPDATE 08/01/2014

Patriots,

Thanks for all the work you have done over the last two days. We are finally getting details about the final border bill that will likely be voted on this evening.

First we want to say that there have been some substantial changes to the bill since yesterday and it is all because of the hard work and dedication that you put into it.

The bill has some good fixes in some areas and some things that we think fall short of where they need to be, but the important part is that we stopped a really bad bill from passing yesterday.

1. Good thing: Reps. John Carter/Robert Aderholt add language to strengthen the "Other Than Mexican" (OTM) problem. Basically this would allow illegal immigrants from countries other than Mexico to either leave immediately upon being caught or if they choose to stay they would be processed and removed just like Mexicans currently are.
2. Better than it was yesterday: Instead of appropriating $197M to HHS, only $25M will go to HHS. This is in line with what the Whitehouse originally requested. The remainder will be available to border governors to help pay for National Guard deployment or to non-border state governors who want to send their National Guard to help.
3. Not ideal, but better than nothing: The bill to deal with the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA) - aka the President's executive amnesty - would revert back to the original Cruz/Blackburn language which would essentially defund DACA, but it will still be brought up as a separate vote. This is still problematic because the Senate likely will not take it up.
4. Bad thing: There is an issue with the fact that 40 temporary immigration judges will be appointed by the DOJ. This means that Eric Holder will have the authority to appoint these judges even though he has been found in contempt of Congress for stonewalling investigations into several scandals.

Overall, the fact that we stopped a bad bill and saw some substantial changes in the bill that will be voted on today is a good thing.

The fact that this bill doesn't do enough to stop Obama's executive amnesty and that it gives Eric Holder authority to appoint judges are not good. Also, the fact that the House Republicans are violating their pledge to allow 72 hours from the time the bill is introduced to the time it is voted on is not good.

The truth of the matter is that the Senate likely won't even vote on these bills and the White House has already said that they would veto them, so these bills will never even become law.

Now that we have given you the information, we urge you to call your Representatives and tell them your thoughts.

Thanks again for all of your hard work this week, it truly made a difference!

In Liberty,
Tea Party Patriots National Support Team