House Republicans unveil alternative immigration bill
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WASHINGTON—In an attempt to derail the compromise immigration bill working its way through the Senate, a group of House Republicans unveiled an alternative measure Tuesday that takes a harder line against immigration that would block illegal immigrants from becoming citizens while directing the Bush administration to enforce current laws.
Called the Secure Borders FIRST Act, the new bill focuses on improving security at the border, stiffening sanctions for employers who hire illegal immigrants, and establishing a market-based temporary guest worker program, which would allow immigrants into the country on 10-month renewable visas. It also increases penalties for gang membership and identity theft, and establishes English as the official language of the United States.
It is a direct answer to the Senate bill, which mandates stepped-up border security, but also puts the estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants currently in the U.S. on a pathway to citizenship.
Members of the Congressional Immigration Caucus, an anti-immigration consortium in the House, made no effort to disguise their hope that their measure, which will be officially introduced later this week, will impede passage of the Senate bill.
"What we want to do is stop the Senate amnesty bill in its tracks right now," said Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) "If Congress is serious about border security and immigration control, then this is the solution."
The measure is also a direct challenge to President Bush, who sees immigration as a legacy issue and has supported the Senate bill as a means of achieving that goal.
The Senate bill, which was nearly killed two weeks ago, will face a critical juncture later this week, when lawmakers are to begin considering a list of 22 amendments, the final potential changes to the bill. The list is the linchpin of a bipartisan deal brokered late last week to resuscitate the measure and then bring the bill to a vote before the Senate breaks for its 4th of July recess.
Despite the precarious balance of votes in the Senate—60 are needed to thwart a potential filibuster against it by staunch opponents—immigrant advocates dismissed any concern that the new Republican measure in the House would have an effect on the Senate process.
"There's nothing surprising about this," said Angela Kelley, deputy director of the National Immigration Forum. "It is about the most predictable piece of legislation coming from the most predictable players in the House Republican Caucus."
Last year, the House, then under Republican control, passed an enforcement-first measure in lieu of more comprehensive immigration legislation that emerged from the Senate.
But even with Democrats in control this year, the fate of immigration in the House is not certain, as several first-term Democrats from conservative districts have indicated they would not be able to vote with party leaders on a comprehensive immigration bill.
House leaders have since been exploring alternatives to a Senate bill, including tackling a series of separate, smaller bills on component parts of the immigration debate—such as that dealing with border enforcement, agricultural workers and high-skilled immigrants—that might garner more widespread support.
