Immigration battlefield widens for Trump, GOP – The Hill (blog)
Congress is bracing for several fights this fall over immigration and border security as the Trump administration struggles to make good on its campaign promises.
The battle could pit President Trump against moderates and senators up for reelection in 2018, who want a more comprehensive approach to both issues.
Lawmakers must pass legislation by the end of September to avoid a government shutdown. The White House appears poised to use that deadline as leverage to secure progress on its immigration agenda and particularly on funding for a border wall, Trumps most famous campaign promise.
The Trump administration is making a hard push for border wall funding as part of any agreement.
Marc Short, a top White House aide, recently pitched congressional staff on including some border wall funding that would be used for a double fence in exchange for more spending on domestic programs a top priority for Democrats, according to Politico.
Asked about the potential trade-off, two Senate Democratic aides said no official offer has been made but predicted any border wall funding wouldnt pass muster with Democrats as well as some Republicans.
If it were made, we expect this misguided wall would be opposed by Republicans as well as Democrats, said Jay Tilton, a spokesman for Sen. Patrick LeahyPatrick LeahyGrassley shouldn't allow Senate Democrats to block judicial nominees Trumps rhetoric and bluster could lose US an ally in Mexico Congress must act to protect data privacy before courts make surveillance even easier MORE (Vt), the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee.
A White House spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.
The battle over the wall could also be pushed until later in the year if lawmakers pass a short-term continuing resolution that would put government funding on autopilot through December. That scenario is viewed as increasingly likely despite opposition from some Republicans.
Despite broad support in the GOP for increased border security, not everyone thinks the emphasis should be on building a wall.
Top lawmakers in the upper chamber, including Senate Majority Whip John CornynJohn CornynCongressional investigations not just special counsels strengthen our democracy Wrath of right falls on Google THE MEMO: Trump's basecheers attacks on McConnell MORE (R-Texas), are backing a years-long border security plan that would instead pay for fencing and increased technology.
The legislation which pairs a crackdown on illegal immigration with increased border security would cost $15 billion over four years.
Asked about a potential shutdown fight over the border wall and if Republicans could say they made good on their promise to secure the border without the money, Cornyn told reporters that he didnt want to put the cart ahead of the horse. Still, he said, the funding should come following a plan, not the other way around.
What we're trying to do here is take that fight off the table, talk about a comprehensive plan that will actually work and accomplish the goals that the president has set out, Cornyn said.
Though Republicans began fast-tracking Cornyn's bill to the Senate calendar before leaving for the August recess, it could still be referred to a committee once lawmakers return.
A spokeswoman for Cornyn said on Monday that she didnt have any scheduling announcements.
Meanwhile, some GOP lawmakers are signaling they want to work with Democrats on broader immigration legislation.
Sen. John McCainJohn McCainMcCain defends McMaster from right-wing media attacks After ObamaCare repeal failure, look to the center Challengers super PAC accuses Flake of betraying voters in new ad MORE (R-Ariz.) wants to try to revive bipartisan comprehensive immigration talks with Senate Minority Leader Chuck SchumerCharles SchumerDemocrats urge Trump to condemn Charlottesville violence Melania Trump on Charlottesville protests: 'No good comes from violence' It's time for McConnell to fight with Trump instead of against him MORE (D-N.Y.). The two senators worked on a comprehensive immigration reform bill in 2013 that passed the Senate but died in the House.
But while a bipartisan deal would boost their chances of getting an immigration bill through the Senate, it would likely be a non-starter with House conservatives, who are focused on improving border security first.
Another X-factor in the immigration debate is Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), a program that allows undocumented immigrants brought into the country as children to remain here legally. Under DACA, nearly 800,000 undocumented immigrants were given a work permit and protected from deportation.
Trump vowed to end the program during the campaign. Unless he halts the program by Sept. 5, DACA will be challenged in court and the administration has not said whether it will defend it. If the administration does not defend DACA, it will effectively be ending it.
Several lawmakers are pushing to ensure that DACA remains in place.
Sens. Dick DurbinDick Durbin'Dreamers' deadline looms for Trump Senators push federal prisons to expand compassionate release Immigration battle brewing in the GOP MORE (D-Ill.) and Lindsey GrahamLindsey GrahamTrump's Charlottesville comments push North Korea from spotlight 'Dreamers' deadline looms for Trump Graham: Trump must do more to distance himself from white supremacists MORE (R-S.C.) have teamed up on two bills aimed at allowing undocumented immigrants brought into the country as children to remain here legally, at least temporarily.
GOP Sens. Jeff Flake (Ariz.), Dean Heller (Nev.) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) have signed on to at least one of Grahams bills.
Even though the White House has rejected the DREAM Act, a bill establishing a path to permanent residency for undocumented minors, Democrats are continuing to push the proposal as a first step to getting comprehensive immigration through Congress.
I think there is some bipartisan support for solutions to this issue, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), who is increasingly the subject of buzz about a presidential run in 2020, said on Monday. But we frankly need to get more Republicans on board.
Meanwhile, even as Republicans debate what to do about illegal immigration, Trump is publicly throwing his full support behind a bill from GOP Sens. Tom CottonTom CottonThe RAISE Act reveals what Trump really thinks about immigrants How Trump's legal immigration cuts could be a blessing to Dreamers Cut the budget caps: The US needs to properly fund our military MORE (Ark.) and David Perdue (Ga.) that would tighten legal immigration by creating a merit-based points system and limiting the number green cards awarded each year.
But that bill has generated opposition in both parties. Asked about the legislation, Sen. Marco RubioMarco RubioThe Memo: Trump tries to quiet race storm Trump tweets on trade, military, Alabama, but not Charlottesville Venezuelan leader put a hit on Marco Rubio: report MORE (R-Fla.) told a Florida CBS station, "I think the White House knows that you don't have 60 votes for that in the Senate."
The remarks got him quick pushback from conservatives, including members of the Federation for American Immigration Reform, which asked whether GOP leadership was waving the white flag on real immigration reform.
Asked about criticism from his GOP colleagues, Cotton told KARK, an Arkansas-based TV station, that many of my colleagues are emotional and opinionated yet uninformed about his legislation and immigration more broadly.
Congress has tried and failed to pass big sweeping comprehensive reform for 11 years now at least. I just dont think thats the right approach anymore, the GOP senator saidin a separate interview.
Both Cotton and Perdue have said they are open to negotiating across the aisle. There are 10 Senate Democrats running for reelection in states Trump won in 2016, and those members could face pressure to support tougher immigration laws.
The Cotton-Perdue bill will need to clear the Senate Judiciary Committee which includes skeptics such as Graham, Flake and Democrats in order to move forward.
More likely ... well have to make some compromises with Democrats and their priorities, Cotton said. Even though its a bit of a novel approach to the problem, something that hasnt been debated a lot in Washington, our legislation is designed to address concerns that a lot of Democrats share.
This story was updated at 11:01 a.m.
Go here to read the rest:
Immigration battlefield widens for Trump, GOP - The Hill (blog)
- Can a lawmaker be fully MAGA and still push for immigration reform? Meet Maria Elvira Salazar - Newsweek - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Carbajal Co-Sponsors Bipartisan Immigration Reform Bill in U.S. House of Representatives - The Santa Barbara Independent - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Fox host Brian Kilmeade: "The border sealed, it could allow maybe moving forward on immigration reform" - Media Matters for America - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Why Some Republicans Say Now Is The Time For Immigration Reform - FOX News Radio - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Bipartisan immigration reform bill aims to provide earned opportunity to stay here and work - McKnight's Senior Living - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Don Bacon defends vote on Big Beautiful Bill, talks immigration reform during town hall - Kearney Hub - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Gillen Backs Immigration Reform Bill - Long Island Life & Politics - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans has joined latest immigration reform attempt. Will it succeed as enforcement surges? - The Denver Post - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Don Bacon defends vote on Big Beautiful Bill, talks immigration reform during town hall - Omaha World-Herald - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Letters to the Editor: Meaningful immigration reform must come from both sides of the aisle - Los Angeles Times - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Press Release: Carbajal Co-Leads Reintroduction of Bipartisan Immigration Reform Bill - Quiver Quantitative - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Bennet has battled for immigration reform for years but critical issue remains deeply politicized in U.S. - Real Vail - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Bipartisan immigration reform package? Some California lawmakers back it, but will Congress pass it? - The Daily Gazette - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Community Leaders Rally in Indio Demanding Immigration Reform, Better Treatment for Detained Families - NBC Palm Springs - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Lawmakers bring immigration reform bill back to allow them to stay - yourcentralvalley.com - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Letters to the Editor: Democrats missed the chance to pass immigration reform years ago - Los Angeles Times - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Bipartisan Immigration Reform Act Introduced to Congress - The Well News - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Opinion | Trumps Immigration Reform Opportunity - The Wall Street Journal - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Press Release: Reps. Lawler, Salazar, and Escobar Unveil Bipartisan DIGNITY Act to Address Immigration Reform - Quiver Quantitative - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- The time is right for common sense immigration reform - The Independent Record - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Bipartisan Group of Legislators Keep Dream of Immigration Reform Alive with Reintroduced 'DIGNIDAD' Act - American Immigration Council - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- What is the Dignity Act? Congress reintroduces bipartisan immigration reform bill - NBC 6 South Florida - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- 'Do you like mass deportations, Grok?' Controversial AI Chatbot Talks Immigration Reform With Professor L. Ali Khan - JURIST Legal News - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Press Release: Gabe Evans and Maria Salazar Introduce Bipartisan Dignity Act for Immigration Reform - Quiver Quantitative - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- The Solution to Trumps Immigration Debacle? Immigration Reform - The Well News - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- CER Podcast: Unpacking Europe: Immigration reform in the UK - Centre for European Reform - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Condemns ICE Raid on Local Business, Calls for Humane Immigration Reform - wehotimes.com - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- A Path Forward on Immigration Reform That Strengthens America - GV Wire - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Weighing in on Trump's promise of immigration reform - Hortidaily - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Immigration Reform for Meat Processors and More Ag Input for MAHA - AG INFORMATION NETWORK OF THE WEST - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Changes Proposed by the Governments White Paper on Immigration Reform | White Paper - Freeths - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- Border congressman: Arresting criminal aliens is the first step in immigration reform - Dallas News - June 22nd, 2025 [June 22nd, 2025]
- Jose Antonio Vargas on What We Get Wrong About Immigration Reform - American Civil Liberties Union - June 20th, 2025 [June 20th, 2025]
- This situation is not worthy of a great nation: Los Angeles archbishop calls for immigration reform - CatholicVote org - June 20th, 2025 [June 20th, 2025]
- Arnold Schwarzenegger Blames Both Parties, Lack Of Immigration Reform For ICE Raids - The Daily Wire - June 20th, 2025 [June 20th, 2025]
- Not going to stop: Immigration Reform group meets in Fresno - yourcentralvalley.com - June 1st, 2025 [June 1st, 2025]
- State Representative Kasey Carpenter on Immigration Reform - Georgia Public Broadcasting - May 30th, 2025 [May 30th, 2025]
- Trump can go down in history by pushing immigration reform | Opinion - Fresno Bee - May 30th, 2025 [May 30th, 2025]
- Bishop urges government to reconsider immigration reform - The Tablet - May 30th, 2025 [May 30th, 2025]
- Whatever Happened to Bipartisan Immigration Reform? - Newsweek - May 19th, 2025 [May 19th, 2025]
- UK Immigration Reform 2025: Key Changes and Business Impacts - Watson Farley & Williams - May 19th, 2025 [May 19th, 2025]
- Inaugural Mass of Pope Leo XIV Raises Hopes for Immigration Reform in Arizona - Hoodline - May 19th, 2025 [May 19th, 2025]
- UK: Government publishes proposal for major immigration reform Work ban forcing some female asylum applicants into sex work New evidence of violence... - May 19th, 2025 [May 19th, 2025]
- UK Immigration Reform deeper restrictions on the horizon - Charles Russell Speechlys - May 19th, 2025 [May 19th, 2025]
- Argentina's immigration reform to be discussed at Mercosur meeting - H2FOZ - May 19th, 2025 [May 19th, 2025]
- Nigel Farage's anti-immigration Reform UK party is riding high in the polls - IslanderNews.com - May 19th, 2025 [May 19th, 2025]
- Thailand Immigration Reform Planned as Bangkok Proposes New Interior Ministry Department to Reshape Policy for Travelers, Expats, Refugees - Travel... - May 5th, 2025 [May 5th, 2025]
- Critical Point: Industry Works Toward Immigration Reform - Thoroughbred Daily News - May 5th, 2025 [May 5th, 2025]
- Horse Racing Industry Urges Action On Immigration Reform To Address Labor Shortages - Paulick Report - May 5th, 2025 [May 5th, 2025]
- We Needed a New President, Not Comprehensive Immigration Reform - The Daily Signal - May 5th, 2025 [May 5th, 2025]
- May Day marches across U.S. demand workers rights, immigration reform, and economic justice - AP News - May 5th, 2025 [May 5th, 2025]
- Canada Takes Bold Steps Towards Immigration Reform By Setting New Caps For Permanent And Temporary Residents And Introducing Changes That Will... - May 5th, 2025 [May 5th, 2025]
- Failure on immigration reform comes at a high cost for Texas, San Antonio - San Antonio Express-News - March 25th, 2025 [March 25th, 2025]
- DHS closes office that advocated for migrants calling it a roadblock to immigration reform - The Independent - March 25th, 2025 [March 25th, 2025]
- Construction industry braces for higher costs due to tariffs and immigration reform - KGW.com - March 20th, 2025 [March 20th, 2025]
- Democrats aim to reverse Floridas illegal immigration reform with new legislation - WFLA - March 20th, 2025 [March 20th, 2025]
- Callously deporting longtime U.S. residents is yet another failure of Trumps immigration reform efforts | Editorial - The Philadelphia Inquirer - March 20th, 2025 [March 20th, 2025]
- Who Is Jeanette Vizguerra? ICE Arrests Immigration Reform Activist And Undocumented Mother - Times Now - March 20th, 2025 [March 20th, 2025]
- Demonstrators gather in south Omaha to protest immigration reform - Nebraska News Service - March 11th, 2025 [March 11th, 2025]
- Catholic Bishops Along the US-Mexico Border Advocate for Immigration Reform - Mwakilishi.com - March 3rd, 2025 [March 3rd, 2025]
- Letter: Comprehensive immigration reform is needed - Quad-City Times - March 1st, 2025 [March 1st, 2025]
- Media Advisory: FAIR, Sheriffs and State Legislators to Hold D.C. Press Conference Urging Border Security Funding and Immigration Reform - PR Newswire - February 25th, 2025 [February 25th, 2025]
- Letter to the Editor: Immigration Reform Would Benefit Wisconsin Farmers - Exponent - February 20th, 2025 [February 20th, 2025]
- OK, No Immigration Reform (But Lets Use The Laws Already On The Books) - A Groundbreaking Examination of U.S. Immigration Policies by Veteran Lawyer... - February 20th, 2025 [February 20th, 2025]
- Legislators Analise Ortiz, Katherine Maranda and Casar Aguilar call for immigration reform - Yahoo - February 11th, 2025 [February 11th, 2025]
- Its well past time for U.S. immigration reform (again) - Angelus News - February 11th, 2025 [February 11th, 2025]
- Protestors take to the streets to call for immigration reform in Los Angeles - uscannenbergmedia.com - February 9th, 2025 [February 9th, 2025]
- Archbishop Prez on the Need for Balanced, Compassionate, and Comprehensive Immigration Reform - CatholicPhilly.com - February 1st, 2025 [February 1st, 2025]
- Bishops across US defend migrants, calling for immigration reform in justice and mercy - Our Sunday Visitor - February 1st, 2025 [February 1st, 2025]
- Project Red Card aims to ease concerns over Trump immigration reform in Latino communities - WCNC.com - February 1st, 2025 [February 1st, 2025]
- Power to the people: governor, legislators want voters to weigh in on immigration reform - Central Florida Public Media (previously WMFE) - February 1st, 2025 [February 1st, 2025]
- Florida lawmakers file extensive immigration reform bills ahead of special session - WJXT News4JAX - February 1st, 2025 [February 1st, 2025]
- Executive Orders Are a Good Start, But We Need Lasting Immigration Reform. Here's Where to Start | Opinion - Newsweek - February 1st, 2025 [February 1st, 2025]
- Project Red Cards aims to ease concerns over Trump immigration reform in Latino communities - WCNC.com - February 1st, 2025 [February 1st, 2025]
- David Reel: Addressing border security and immigration reform - Broad + Liberty - February 1st, 2025 [February 1st, 2025]
- NMPF hoping for caution on immigration reform - Agri-News - February 1st, 2025 [February 1st, 2025]
- DOJ Letter Bolsters Drummond Appeal of Injunction Against State Immigration Reform Law - Ponca City Now - February 1st, 2025 [February 1st, 2025]
- Emotional Selena Gomez breaks down in tears, vows to support immigration reform amid deportation policies - AS USA - February 1st, 2025 [February 1st, 2025]
- 'El Norte' Director Says His 1983 Sundance Classic on Immigration Reform Is 'More Relevant Today' | Video - TheWrap - February 1st, 2025 [February 1st, 2025]
- Chicago mayor reiterates opposition to incoming Trump admin's immigration reform - Fox News - January 19th, 2025 [January 19th, 2025]