10:21 pm - June 08, 2013 — Updated: 10:23 pm - June 08, 2013


By Peter Urban

Stephens Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, came under fire last week from the White House after he succeeded in winning House approval for a measure aimed at derailing a bipartisan immigration reform deal at work in the Senate.

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney issued a statement denouncing the King measure that would strip protections for so-called “Dreamers,” or undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. at a young age by their parents, from being deported.

“This amendment, sponsored by Rep. Steve King, runs contrary to our most deeply-held values as Americans. It asks law enforcement to treat these Dreamers the same way as they would violent criminals. It’s wrong. It’s not who we are. And it will not become law,” Carney said.

The House voted, 224-201, Thursday morning in favor of King’s amendment to defund presidential orders that allow immigration enforcement officials to focus deportation efforts on illegal immigrants who have been convicted of crimes. Six Republicans opposed it while only three Democrats supported it.

King, a Republican, said that the policies promoted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director John Morton grant administrative amnesty to illegal aliens. The amendment he offered to a Homeland Security spending bill would prohibit the so-called Morton memos.

Moreover, King said, that the amendment provided the first test for this Congress on immigration.

“My amendment blocks many of the provisions that are mirrored in the Senate’s ‘Gang of Eight’ bill. If this position holds, no amnesty will reach the President’s desk,” said King, who represents Iowa’s 4th Congressional District, which includes Story County and Ames.

The Senate Judiciary Committee in May approved legislation that would create a path to citizenship for 11 million unauthorized immigrants, boost border security and streamline the visa program.

The bill, which was initiated by four Democrats and four Republicans, will be on the Senate floor for debate this week.

The DREAM Action Coalition, which advocates for undocumented youth, issued a statement Thursday strongly condemning House Speaker John Boehner for allowing a vote on King’s amendment.

“The fact that the amendment passed the House of Representatives demonstrates a lack of control by Republican leadership who is allowing the chamber to be whipped by Tea Party fringe voices,” the group said.

http://amestrib.com/sections/news/am...amendment.html