Brat supports apparent compromise on immigration reform
Brat supports apparent compromise on immigration reform
- By Allison Brophy Champion Culpeper Star–Exponent
- 1 hr ago
Rep. Dave Brat, R–7th District, unveiled a measure Tuesday that would toughen immigration enforcement—including mandatory employment verification—as part of an apparent congressional compromise intended to protect some 700,000 “Dreamers” living in America.
Brat’s House Resolution 4340, the American Labor, Wages and Sovereignty Act, would eliminate the visa lottery program that allows immigrants from underrepresented countries to come to the U.S., as well as end the immigration of non-nuclear family members.
The legislation would also require all employers to use the E-verify online system to determine a prospective employee’s immigration status and therefore their eligibility to work in the U.S.
“If we get those three, DACA could be part of that,” the congressman was quoted in The Hill publication. “I’m open to that compromise, but it can’t be any weaker than that.”
His spokeswoman Juliana Heerschap confirmed the proposed trade-off.
“Yes, we hope this is part of the negotiations,” she said.
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals is an Obama-era initiative protecting from deportation the young people brought to America by their parents without proper documentation.
President Donald Trump has vowed to dismantle the program in March unless Congress acts to reform the immigration system.
Brat, whose district includes parts of Spotsylvania and all of Orange and Culpeper counties, said it was time to move toward an immigration policy that serves the national interest by putting American jobs, safety and sovereignty first.
“For too long, Congress has stood by and let our immigration system spiral out of control and the American people are expecting members of Congress to do their job and keep their promises,” he said in a statement.
Brat said his resolution offers “common-sense” measures to meet the challenges plaguing the U.S. immigration system.
In September, he applauded the decision by the White House to end DACA, saying that allowing the program to continue made a pretense of the legislative process. Brat also advocated for border and interior enforcement of immigration laws. In August, he said he supported full funding for construction of a wall on the southern border.
Texas Rep. Lamar Smith is co-sponsoring House Resolution 4340, which is similar to a measure he introduced in 2015.
A House committee last month endorsed the Legal Workforce Act, saying it would save jobs for American workers.
Smith cited a Washington Post poll from September that showed 79 percent of respondents supported mandatory E-Verify. The same poll also showed 86 percent support among Americans for Dreamers to remain in the country.
Meanwhile, Democrats—including Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine—are supporting the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act (DREAM) Act that would give permanent residency to nearly 2 million Dreamers with a path to citizenship.“Congress should immediately pass the bipartisan DREAM Act to protect these kids and then find an agreement on long-overdue, comprehensive immigration reform,” Kaine has said.
Groups favoring immigration reforms, such as Numbers USA and Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) are supporting Brat’s American Labor, Wages and Sovereignty or LAWS Act, according to the congressman.
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