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Three Reasons the GOP Leader Hit Pause on Immigration Reform

House Speaker John Boehner hit the pause button Thursday on major immigration reform in 2014, just one week after Republicans unveiled their principles for an overhaul.

Why did the Republican leader who has said for the past year that he wants to pass immigration legislation slam on the brakes? Here are three reasons:

TimelineTheres a real fear among House Republicans that moving immigration reform now could divide the party in a mid-term election year.

Despite worries that the GOP would lose real ground among Latinos in national elections if immigration reform stalls, the majority of GOP House members come from districts without a substantial Latino population. In fact, 142 Republicans out the 232 in the House come from districts that are less than 10 percent Latino. Immigration just not a pressing issue for them or a winning one.

Without a clear deadline for passing immigration reform unlike the budget deadlines that so often drive legislative action opponents asked Boehner why GOP leaders wanted reform now, before a tough election year that could yield Republican gains.

TrustBoehner cited a lack of trust between House Republicans and President Barack Obama a very real sentiment from the House GOP conference. Rank-and-file Republicans feel the president has overplayed his hand constitutionally when it comes to executive actions on the Affordable Care Act, and they fear hed do the same thing regarding border security within an immigration reform bill. Thats a red flag for members whose constituents worry that an immigration overhaul would end up attracting more undocumented immigrants.

Its worth noting that theres no direct proof that Obama would not enforce border security. Immigration reform advocates frequently point out the presidents record levels of deportations, and their calls for executive action to halt them have so far gone stubbornly unheeded. And the Senate immigration bill that passed last year would have spent billions on border security and interior enforcement something that even the top backer of those border security measures, Republican Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee, said was probably overkill.

Boehners requirement that Obama earn back trust in the eyes of the American people or House Republicans is also very vague. The speaker offered no specific criteria for the president to meet, although Congress and the White House are continuing to grapple over the debt ceiling and unemployment insurance both areas that could be ripe for negotiations.

Bottom line: many Republicans, mindful of their constituents dislike of the president and his signature health care law, are simply wary to work with Obama on a controversial issue in an election year, and they believe theres no downside to punting to next year.

Border SecuritySince the beginning of the push on immigration reform, Republicans have made clear that their top priority is to secure the border first. But what constitutes border security for the House GOP Conference is relatively undefined. Unlike in the Senate bill, its never been put down in legislation. Does a secure border mean drones? More fencing? Boots on the ground? And how costly is that proposition?

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Three Reasons the GOP Leader Hit Pause on Immigration Reform

February 6th, 2014

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Immigration reform delay will be Obamas fault, Boehner says

Justaweek ago, House Republican leadersreleased a set of principles for an immigration overhaul, raising the expectation thatthey werefinally preparing to tackle the issue after months of inaction. But House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, suggested another long delay is imminent because the president cant be trusted to enforce existing laws.

This is an important issue in our country, its been kicked round forever and it needs to be dealt with, Boehner said. But, he added, members of Congress and the American people dont trust that the reform that were talking about will be implemented as it was intended to be. The president seems to change the healthcare law on a whim whenever it likesnow hes running all over the country telling everyone that hes going to keep acting on his own.

We are going to continue to discuss this issue with our members, but I think the presidents going to have to demonstrate to the American people and to my colleagues that he can be trusted to enforce the law as it is written, Boehner added.

When asked about Boehners comments, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said, I think the presidents record speaks for itself. He pointed to enhanced border enforcement and surveillance technology. Left unsaid but something of which pro-citizenship activists are keenly aware of is that the president hasdeported record numbers of immigrantscaught living illegally in the United States.

Immigrant advocates havestepped up pressure on the president to unilaterally halt deportations, a move the president has resisted because he says its well beyond his authority. Carney repeated that point in his briefingWednesday, telling reporters, Theres no alternative to comprehensive immigration reform passing throughCongress. It requires legislation.

Lynn Tramonte,deputydirector of the pro-citizenshiporganizationAmericas Voice, noted the high deportation numbers in response to Boehners comments. Just one week after issuing their standards for immigration reform, the House Republicans are already seeking to lower expectations about passing legislation this year and testing out excuses.Republicans need to realize this isnt about Obama its about them, she said.

Still, Boehner is far from the first Republican to make this argument. Last, Sen. MarcoRubio, R-Fla. one of the architects of the Senates comprehensive immigration reform bill -- said the administrations handling of the attack on the 2012 attack on American diplomats in Benghazi and the increased scrutiny of conservative organizations by some employees of the Internal Revenue Service were proof they wouldnt enforce the law.

I dont know if it can happen under this administration given its lack of willingness to enforce the law. Its a real impediment, Rubiosaid at a breakfast hosted by the Wall Street Journal.

Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., who has been one of the more vocal supporters of immigration reform among House Republicans,said he doubted whether an immigration bill could pass in 2014because of Republican agreement on one big issue: We don't trust the president to enforce the law.

Boehners comments follow on a gathering of conservative congressman yesterday where several members said the GOP should wait to act on immigration legislation until after the midterm elections, when Republicans could gain control of the Senate.

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Immigration reform delay will be Obamas fault, Boehner says

February 6th, 2014

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Three Reasons Boehner Hit Pause on Immigration Reform