JUST BEFORE THE SUMMER RECESS IN D.C. EVENTS

Latest Federal Immigration News

Dear Conservatives,
Last week Congress engaged in a burst of activity to address the border surge, before it took its August recess.  Finally, the House passed a couple of tough immigration bills—after the Senate had already left town.
President Obama had asked for $3.7 billion in supplemental funds to spend on the border crisis and its unaccompanied alien minors.  A Senate bill to provide $2.7 billion fell 10 votes short of the 60 needed to advance.

House bills
The House Republican leadership had planned to pass its weak border bill, HR 5230, which included $659 million in emergency funding.  Facing increasing opposition from pro-enforcement activists like you, Speaker Boehner pulled that bill and stronger legislation emerged.  Language to require that all unaccompanied minors face the same removal process, regardless of country of origin, was added along with $35 million to reimburse Texas for sending the National Guard to the border.  This stronger version of HR 5230, with a total of $694 million, passed 223-189 with one Democrat in favor and four Republicans opposed.
Then, even more significantly, the House passed Rep. Marsha Blackburn’s (R-TN) HR 5272, which prevents Obama from expanding his Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program or any other administrative amnesty, a primary cause of the surge. The vote was 216-192, with four Democrats in favor and 11 Republicans opposed.
These bills passed on Friday, a day later than the scheduled recess, and after the Senate had already adjourned. There is no chance that the Senate will pass them when it returns in September, but their passage sends the powerful, political message that Americans will not acquiesce in abolishing our borders.
Obama’s reaction
Predictably, President Obama criticized the legislation, and said he would veto the bills in the unlikely event that they passed the Senate.  He repeated his threat to act unilaterally and expand his administrative amnesty this summer.
During the recess
Some members of Congress will hold town hall meetings in their districts this month. CAPS will send you additional information on what you can do during the recess to promote sensible immigration reform, but we wanted first to provide you with this summary of a confusing week of Congressional activities.  Look for further messages from CAPS on how you can stay involved in building a better, less crowded America.
Sincerely,

Jo Wideman
CAPS Executive Director