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Two Central Valley Republicans say that newly selected House Speaker Paul Ryans decision not to focus on immigration reform while Barack Obama is president wont stop them from trying.

Reps. Jeff Denham (R-Turlock) and David Valadao (R-Hanford) have been among the most outspoken members of their party pushing for comprehensive immigration overhaul.

Its time to have a full debate, Denham said Friday.

But the speaker has pledged to hold off an olive branch to members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, who have balked at his past support for measures to provide a path to citizenship and increase the number of foreign-worker visas.

In a private meeting with the caucusbeforehis election, Ryan secured its backing by agreeing to delay action on immigration. Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.) entered a letter with the details of the understanding into the Congressional record Tuesday.

The document boils down Ryans conversation with Freedom Caucus members to two points:

It is unwise or unproductive to bring up any immigration legislation so long as Barack Obama is president. And as Speaker, you will not allow any immigration bill to reach the House floor for a vote unless the immigration bill is supported by a 'majority of the majority' of Republican House Members.

I need your assurance that you will not use the Speaker's position to advance your immigration policies, except when in accord with the two above statements, because there is a huge gap between your immigration position and the wishes of the American citizens I represent, the letter states.

That informal practice of not putting legislation forward that isn't supported by a majority within the GOP-controlled House is known as the Hastert rule, after former Speaker Dennis J. Hastert (R-Ill.)

Ryan since has reiterated that position publicly, telling the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel on Friday that there would be no broad push on immigration reform this year or next.

I think it would be ridiculous to try toattempt immigration reform with a president we simply cannot trust, so I don't think that that's in the cards for this Congress outside of things that we do agree on, like border and interior enforcement, Ryan said.

Denham said that he doesnt expect the Freedom Caucus will be able to block immigration policy changes in perpetuity, especially if they abide by the Hastert policy.

They have done a good job of talking about regular order and following the rules, said Denham, who was among the 14 California House Republicans who supported Ryan. Well, by that very example, then, issues of immigration should be able to come up as well, he said. You cant have it both ways.

In fact, the Caucus has asked Ryan for a rule change that would make it harder for committee chairmen to keep legislation they dont like from making to a floor vote if it is supported by the majority of Republicans.

Denhams ENLIST Act which would allow people brought to the United States illegally as children before 2011 to become lawful alien residents if they complete a term of military service has been sitting in the Armed Services Committee since April.

I am confident that we have a majority of the majority on the ENLIST Act, and Im going to push forward, he said.

Valadao, whose district is 71% Latino, said Ryans commitment to the House Caucus also isnt going to stop him from trying to change the countrys immigration system.

Do I expect a full bill? No, theres not a lot of trust between the conference and the president, and so that puts us in a bad position, he said. But were obviously going to continue to work and hope to get something done, at least some common sense stuff.

California House Democrats also were upset by the news that Ryan doesnt plan to act on immigration without support from a majority of Republicans.

Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-Whittier) said she initially thought reform would be more likely under Ryans leadership.

Clearly we are disappointed, because he has been an advocate in the past not just because its the right immigration policy but, from the tax side, he understands what a benefit to the community comprehensive immigration reform would be, said Sanchez, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus chairwoman.

Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Los Angeles) said he doesnt expect Republicans to be able to keep changes to the countrys immigration system from happening.

Paul Ryan is going to stop immigration from coming up the way he can stop the sun from rising, Becerra said. For any leader in the House to say: Were not going to bring immigration up when we know we need to is essentially capitulating to the extreme forces in the party, he said.

sarah.wire@latimes.com

Follow@sarahdwire on Twitter

For more, go to latimes.com/politics.

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