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Democrats regained their mojo on Thursday night at Nationals Park with a commanding11-2 victory over the Republicans at the 56th annual Congressional Baseball Game.

But with the tragic shooting during the Republicans team practice the daybefore, esprit de corps was themain game plan for both teams, dispelling for at least a night, the clouds of highly charged partisanship that has plagued both sides of the aisle this year.

In a final touching conclusion to the game, the Democrats team manager Mike Doyle turned over the coveted Roll Call Trophy to Republican manager Joe L. Barton to place in Majority Whip Steve Scalises office until he made it back to Congress. Scalise was one of five wounded in Wednesday mornings shooting in Alexandria, Virginia.

Though the Democrats bats were hot throughout the night, they also capitalized on some costly GOP defensive errors.

The sobering shooting that left Scalisewith a grievous hip wound and in critical condition in a hospital bed did not seem to deter the mood and revelry of the players and fans. An unexpectedly large crowd of close to 25,000 turned out to enjoy a night of bipartisan camaraderie the very spirit the congressional baseball game is meant to invoke.

A few pregame events were bipartisan crowdpleasers.

Before the first pitch, Democratic and Republican fans joined in cheers as both teams took to the field in a moment of prayer for Scalise and the four other victims.

Game On: Video Highlights from the 2017 Congressional Baseball Game

Another cheer erupted when the announcer informed attendees that some of the proceeds from the charity game will go toward the Capitol Police Memorial Fund. Some attendees wore navy Capitol Police caps in honor of the two officers credited with preventing more casualties during the attack, despite being wounded themselves.

The next cheer came when Scalises name was called out during the team introductions. Both Republican and Democratic fans gave the missing GOP leader a huge standing ovation.

Former Yankees manager Joe Torre also got a cheer when he presented the baseball to injured Capitol Police officer David Bailey, who was wounded by shrapnel during the attack. Bailey then threw this years ceremonial first pitch.

The spirit of unity continued as Senate and House leadership announced the start of the game following a pre-taped welcome video message from President Donald Trump.

But competition is the name of the game and this was evident at the start as Pennsylvania Rep. Ryan A. Costello, lead batter for the Republicans, walked, stole second, made third after a ground out by Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake, and stole home during Texas Rep. Kevin Bradys at bat.

Democratic starting pitcher, Rep. Cedric L. Richmondof Louisiana, seemed to struggle throughout the first inning and GOP pinch runner, Rep. Chuck Fleischmannof Tennessee, took advantage, stealing second after a wild pitch and also scoring on two more.

Democrats entered the bottom of the first with a 2-0 deficit.

But CaliforniaRep. Raul Ruiz immediately answered the Democrats call with a powerful single, and later stole second.

North Carolina Rep.Mark Walker, the GOP pitcher, then walked California Rep. Jared Huffman, opening the door for Richmond, arguably the best player in the history of the game, to load the bases with a de facto bunt.

Democratic Rep. Tim Ryanof Ohio tied the game with a double, allowing Ruiz and Huffman to score. Colorado Rep. Jared Polis hit, though called out at first, allowed Richmond to score, pulling the Democrats ahead,ended the first inning with a 3-2 lead.

The second inning began with a solid single from GOP catcher, Illinois Rep. Rodney Davis.

As the top of the inning continued, Richmonds pitching was both shaky and solid. After striking out Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, Georgia Rep. Barry Loudermilk hit a single off of him, allowing Davis to third.

But another wild pitch allowed Loudermilk to steal second. Then Richmond struck out lead batter Costello, stranding Davis at third and Democrats retained their one-point lead.

Solid defensive play by Republicans resulted in a short at bat for Democrats as the second inning ended with the same score, 3-2.

Bats went quiet for the Republicans in the third inning and later ones. But not for Democrats, who blew open the inning with a few hits and capitalized on a few GOP defensive errors.

Richmond, thanks to an error at first base, hit a double. Polis then batted him in with an RBI single, advancing the Democrats, 4-2.

Walker later walked Connecticut Sen. Christopher S. Murphy, hitting him with a wild pitch. California Rep. Pete Aguilar then hit a double, allowing three more runs. Democrats ended the inning with a solid 7-2 lead.

Both offenses were unproductive in the fourth inning, the highlight being the mid-game Washington Nationals Presidents Race. (Teddy took the checkered flag.)

Richmonds command was in full force throughout the fifth and the remaining innings, quieting the GOPs bats once again. He led a major offensive charge in the fifth for the Democrats, starting the inning with a powerhouse triple.

TexasRep. Joe L. Barton, the Republicans team manager, then pulled starter Walker, putting in PennsylvaniaRep. Patrick Meehanas relief.

But errors continued to dog the GOP as a throwing error by Meehangave Democrats another run(and a de facto double for Polis).

Meehan then walkedCalifornia Rep. Linda T. Snchez, a favorite among the Democratic fans.

California Rep. Nanette Barragan, the only other female player, also took to the plate in the fifth inning, promptingcheers from Democratic fans and hitting a single and an RBI.

The Republicansseemed tired by the end of the fifth inning, with the Democrats solidly ahead 11-2, a comfortable lead that held to the end of the game.

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Democrats Reclaim Congressional Baseball Title, Bipartisanship Rules - Roll Call

Members of the Republican team pray before the annual Congressional Baseball Game at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., on Thursday. Joshua Roberts / Reuters

"It would've been awful to have what happened yesterday, which was bad enough, and not to be able to get together with your colleagues and do this," Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Arizona., said.

By Thursday evenings first pitch, organizers had sold close to 25,000 tickets and sponsorship doubled overnight, according to the games organizer Meredith Raimondi.

The game raised more than $1.5 million for the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington, Washington Literacy Center, the Washington Nationals Dream Foundation and the Capitol Police Memorial Fund in honor of those injured in the line of duty during Wednesdays shooting.

Describing themselves as much tougher and resilient after the attack that united them in the way only survivors of mass shootings know too well, members separated themselves from yesterdays tragedies and zoned in on the game.

The thing about it is the game has always been so raw, so partisan, but in good nature though, Rep. Mike Conaway, R-Texas, said earlier on Thursday. We tease each other and we trash talk.

On the field, it was back to normal partisanship, especially after the Democrat's most valuable player, Rep. Cedric Richmond, D-Louisiana, almost hit a home run.

Conaway said its weird that a game purposely driven by the enthusiasm of a divided fan base is driving a sense of unity, adding that he hopes it can continue off the field.

And it did. Members like Rep. Adam Schiff, D-California, were spotted taking selfies. House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wisconsin, donned a Louisiana State University hat, while Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-California, wore the university's jersey in honor of Scalise's home team.

Scalise staffers wore blue "Team Scalise" shirts and waved a number of signs for their boss. One notably read, "Don't Stop Scalisin."

Jack Barton, Rep. Joe Barton's 10-year-old son, who hid under a car to avoid bullets during the shootout, was seen running into the field to pick up foul balls.

The Democrats' bats overpowered the Republicans, 11-2, to broke the 39-39 series tie.

Though they won the trophy, Democratic manager Rep. Mike Doyle, D-Pennsylvania, gave their opponents the winning prize so it could remain in Scalise's office.

Barton, a Republican from Texas and the team's manager, accepted the trophy and then joked that his players "wouldn't be this nice next year."

Politics aside, the members agreed that, regardless of game play, the country is better off when the nation is united.

Somebody asked me who do you think is going to win tonight?', said Rep. Brad Wenstrup, R-Ohio, who witnessed yesterdays shooting. I said America.

CORRECTION (June 16, 12:09 pm) An earlier version of this article misstated the location of the hospital where Rep. Steve Scalise was transported after he was shot. He was taken to MedStar Washington Hospital Center in the District of Columbia, not to a hospital in Virginia.

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After Shooting, Baseball Brings Democrats and Republicans Together - NBCNews.com

More than 780,000 DREAMers have been allowed to stay in the U.S. under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program created under President Obama. Many worry about their future under President Trump. USA TODAY

Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly.(Photo: Susan Walsh, AP)

WASHINGTON President Trump's Department of Homeland Security has rescinded former President Barack Obama's order shielding millions of migrants from deportation, but is letting stand a policy that grants reprieves to people who arrived in the United States as children.

Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly announced late Thursday that, after consulting with Attorney General Jeff Sessions, he is rescinding an Obama memorandum from 2014 that allowed immigrants to remain in the United States under certain conditions.

The rescinded memo created a program that protected undocumented immigrants from deportation if they have a child who is a U.S. citizen or lawful resident.

The program known as Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents, or DAPA was never implemented because it was challenged in court by 26 states and was put on hold by federal courts.

The DHS decision to rescind the memo came ahead of a court-ordered deadline to resolve the case.

Kelly said in a news release that he decided to rescind the memo because there is no credible path forward to litigate the policy.

The decision fulfills part of a campaign promise by Trump, who vowed to overturn two of Obamas memos on illegal immigration.

However, Kelly said the decision would not impact an Obama program created in 2012 that granted reprieves from deportation to nearly 800,000 undocumented immigrants who arrived in the United States as children.

The terms of that program, known as the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, will not change, Kelly said.

The rescinded program provided expanded work authorization for recipients under DACA.

But so-called Dreamers who were issued three-year extensions before the district courts injunction will not be affected and will be eligible to seek a two-year extension upon their expiration," the news release said. "No work permits will be terminated prior to their current expiration dates."

Read more:

DREAMers on edge over Trump on fifth anniversary of protected status

Undocumented Texas students fight anti-sanctuary law

Fed's Kaplan: Immigration crackdown hurting economy

Advocates for undocumented immigrants warned that while Kelly left the DACA program in place for now, theres nothing to keep the Trump administration from reversing it in the future.

This memo and the response from the White House is not a permanent promise to protect the program, said Greisa Martinez Rosas, advocacy director forUnited We Dream, which identifies itself as the largest immigrant youth-led organization in the nation.

The DACA program still stands," she said, "but its vulnerable.

Advocacy groups also were incensed that the Trump administration rescinded the parental program on the fifth anniversary of DACA.

Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., praised Kelly's decision to rescind the DAPA program, calling it a deeply irresponsible policy from the start.

It essentially said to illegal immigrants that we wouldnt enforce our laws and encouraged them to risk their lives in coming to the United States, Cotton said. It was also a blatant attempt by the president to circumvent Congress that the courts swiftly shut down. Im glad to see Secretary Kelly take it off the books. Such a high-handed fiat deserves nothing less than to be rescinded in full.

Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va., blasted Kellys decision, noting that it came as Democrats and Republicans had put aside partisanship and gathered for the Congressional Baseball Game following theshooting of House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., during a practice session early Wednesday.

Before the game had even finished, the Trump administration shattered this spirit of good feelings by announcing the rescission of the DAPA program, Beyer said.

Beyer took some confront in noting that the DACA program would remain in place, but said that the need for comprehensive immigration reform giving undocumented immigrants a pathway to citizenship has never been more urgent.

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Trump keeps policy on Dreamers, eliminates protection for older immigrants - USA TODAY

For the second time this year, an influential group of Chicago-area business leaders is openly challenging the Trump administration's tough anti-immigration policies.

But this time around, the more than 170 corporate CEOs, midsized-business owners, neighborhood entrepreneurs and investors are pressing Gov. Bruce Rauner to join their crusade.

This week, the Illinois Business Immigration Coalition sent a letter to Rauner urging him to sign the Illinois Trust Act, which recently was passed by the General Assembly. The bipartisan measure seeks to provide increased legal protections to immigrants.

Rauner should sign this bill into law, despite the possibility of political blowback or maybe a nasty tweet from President Donald Trump. It will boost the state's economic fortunes, while enabling Illinois to chart a realistic approach to dealing with the complex issue of immigration, particularly its impact on labor and business.

"Rauner has a very interesting decision to make," says Scott Grams, executive director of the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association, which has 800 members statewide. "Illinois has an opportunity to become a real beacon on immigration."

The governor's office says the Illinois Trust Act legislation is "under review" and Rauner is a believer in "comprehensive immigration reform."

By approving the bill, Rauner would make progress on the immigration front by providing more clarity and security to most everyone in this state touched by the issue.

Monique Garcia and Haley BeMiller

At its core, the legislative measure sensibly prohibits local or state police from cooperating with federal authorities investigating immigrants unless they possess a court-issued criminal warrant, a basic constitutional right.

It also forbids local law enforcement from stopping, searching and arresting anyone based only on immigration or citizenship status. Federal agents still could catch and deport criminals in the country illegally, which is the appropriate course of action.

As important, the act would provide the majority of immigrants in the country illegally, and their families, the assurance of living and working in Illinois without having to continually look over their shoulders in dread.

Landscapers are among a host of local employers favoring the proposed Illinois Trust Act. Representatives of the area's retail, hospitality, restaurants, health care, and agriculture businesses lined up to sign the letter to Rauner.

All are justifiably concerned about the repercussions of Trump's pledge to mass-deport people who are living here illegally and tighten entry across U.S. borders.

That's not a big surprise.

Anyone who buys, sells or uses the society's most basic goods and services soon realizes how highly dependent our economy has become on immigrant labor.

Unfortunately, it's getting increasingly difficult to recruit and retain immigrant workers amid a highly charged anti-immigrant environment. The "fear generated by increased immigration enforcement over the past five months has a negative impact," the coalition letter asserts.

This anxiety isn't restricted to people who are not legally authorized to be here, but also affects people who are here legally, including children and young adults who are concerned about being profiled or picked up at random by law enforcement.

This week, the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement reasserted the administration's vow to track down people who are living here illegally, while asking Congress for more tax money to do the job.

"What's going on now is making people afraid to go to work," says Carole Segal, co-founder of retailer Crate and Barrel and co-chair of the immigration coalition.

Among the other local business and civic leaders supporting the Illinois Trust Act: Susan Crown, founder of a namesake investment firm and member of the wealthy Crown family; Mike Englehart, CEO of Presence Health; Morton Schapiro, president of Northwestern University; Mark Gordon, CEO of the Illinois Hotel and Lodging Association; and William Kunkler, executive vice president of private equity firm CC Industries.

John Rowe, chairman emeritus for Exelon and co-chair of the coalition, and Glenn Tilton, ex-chairman of United Airlines, are also on board.

But some marquee employers haven't pitched in, including McDonald's. A coalition spokeswoman says the group continues to recruit corporate names and is reaching out to the fast-food giant and others.

Earlier this year, the coalition sent a letter to Trump urging him not to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.

Trump kept the plan, which basically allows nearly 750,000 young people who are children of immigrants in the country illegally to obtain work permits and remain in the country.

Yes, illegal immigration is a vexing, multidimensional dilemma. But it can't simply be solved by mass deportation and disruption.

In backing the Illinois Trust Act, business leaders are calling for a rational, humane course of action toward immigration enforcement, even though it's at odds with the president's approach.

Illinois' CEO should follow their lead and approve this plan.

roreed@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @reedtribbiz

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Business pushes Rauner to sign bill to protect immigrants - Chicago Tribune

A day after a temporary group addressing recent threats to immigration concluded its work, Catholic bishops voted on Thursday to create a new permanent committee aimed at addressing religious freedom issues in the United States.

The contrast of the two movesending a temporary task force on immigration policy as the global refugee crisis continues while creating a permanent religious liberty committee when the goals of the ad hoc committee appear within reachgenerated a vigorous debate among bishops gathered for their spring meeting in Indianapolis.

Some bishops expressed concern that allowing the immigration group to dissolve would send a signal that bishops had retreated from the issue. Later in the day, the head of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops appeared to agree, releasing a statement announcing that the immigration working group would continue, citing the the continued urgency for comprehensive immigration reform, a humane refugee policy and a safe border."

Meeting in Indianapolis for their spring meeting, the bishops voted 132 to 53 to make permanent an ad hoc committee formed in 2011 by Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who was then president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The vote was not without controversy, however, as evidenced by floor comments from close to 20 bishops, including four cardinals.

On June 14, bishops heard a report about an ad hoc working group on immigration issues. That group began its work in November, after the election of Donald J. Trump, who during the presidential campaign promised to crack down on migration. It wrapped up its work this month. Bishop Robert McElroy of San Diego took to the floor during that discussion, arguing that letting the working group dissolve could send a signal that bishops were retreating on immigration.

During Thursdays debate on the religious liberty committee, a member of the ad hoc group, Bishop Christopher Coyne of Burlington, Vt., said he was concerned letting the immigration working group come to a close while establishing a permanent committee on religious freedom sent a bad message.

Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark agreed, calling the timing very unfortunate and saying the vote to create the permanent committee would send a message that the conference is actually disengaging on migration issues, calling it a crisis that is growing stronger each day.

Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore disagreed, noting that the bishops have permanent committees that address migration issues.

The religious liberty committee was created during a clash with the Obama administration, during which some Catholic universities, hospitals and dioceses argued that provisions of the Affordable Care Act violated their religious freedom.

The committee has been chaired by Archbishop Lori since its inception. During a presentation on Thursday, the archbishop said religious liberty remains under challenge, and its likely these challenges will intensify in the years ahead.

Archbishop Lori said that while the churchs opposition to the Department of Health and Human Services contraception mandate appears to be headed toward a resolution, he believed other issues, including newly gained rights for transgender individuals and the legalization of same-sex marriage in 2015, required a standing religious freedom committee ready to address new challenges as they arise.

Other bishops were concerned about how the new permanent committee would be funded.

Archbishop Lori told the bishops that the new committee would be budget neutral, but Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago took to the floor to note that the committee has received more than $500,000 in outside funding since its inception. He asked if those donations would continue.

Archbishop Lori said he was quite confident that outside funding would continue to support the committee in the years ahead.

Bishop Coyne said he was concerned that establishing the permanent committee could put bishops on the hook for funding should donations dry up.

The funding is not permanent. It can go away, he said. Money and funding can disappear for all kinds of reasons.

Two prominent cardinals, however, spoke in favor of creating the permanent structure.

Cardinal Donald Wuerl of Washington said he supported the proposal because the challenge to religious liberty is a growing one.

Cardinal Dolan also supported the proposal, saying U.S. bishops serve as leaders to bishops in other countries.

In my contact with brother bishops throughout the world, they look to us in the United States to be real quarterbacks when it comes to the defense of religious freedom, he said.

After the vote, Bishop Jaime Soto of Sacramento asked if the migration working group might continue its work. Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, head of the U.S.C.C.B., said he believed the group would continue to meet informally and that he would consider creating another ad hoc working group. On Thursday, he announced in a press release that the groups work would continue.

This story includes updates.

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Bishops extend work of immigration group after vigorous floor debate - America Magazine