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U.S. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) (L-R) and House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) hold a news conference after a Republican Party caucus meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington May 20, 2014. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst (UNITED STATES - Tags: POLITICS) - RTR3Q1PA

The immigration fight has moved inside the House of Representatives since the Senates comprehensive reform bill passed last summer, and its beginning to intensify in the dichotomy between the supporters of its two chief leaders, Speaker John Boehner and Majority Leader Eric Cantor.

Eric Cantor is the number one guy standing between the American people and immigration reform, pro-reform Americas Voice Executive Director Frank Sharry said on a conference call with Democratic activists earlier this week, according to the Associated Press.

Reformers allege that future speakership ambitions and a tea party primary challenge on June 10 have pushed the Virginia Republican to stiffen, drag it out or not address immigration at all to appease tea party House members and voters. Those same factors have reportedly driven a wedge between the already divided top two tiers of the lower chambers leadership.

Boehner criticized his House Republican colleagues last month for avoiding immigration, alleging they viewed the issue as too hard.

We get elected to make choices. We get elected to solve problems and its remarkable to me how many of my colleagues just dont want to, Boehner said. Theyll take the path of least resistance.

Cantor spokesmanDoug Heye challenged the assertions against Cantor, citing the majority leaders announcement with Republican House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte last summer to propose legislation granting citizenship to undocumented immigrants brought into the U.S. as children illegally.

Heye also pointed to Cantors commitment last year to help California Republican Rep. Jeff Denham bring a bill to the floor offering similar citizenship to undocumented children brought in illegally in exchange for military service.

The bill with Goodlatte has yet to materialize and Cantors office announced last week that Denhams proposal, dubbed the ENLIST Act, would not come to the floor for a vote this year as part of 2015s defense authorization bill, for which Cantor scheduled a Thursday vote. According to Heye, both of those conversations are still ongoing.

On the issue of kids, he thinks thats a great place to start and wants to continue to work on that. He supports the principle behind the ENLIST Act, Heye said. These are things that he believes because theyre the right things for him to do. Its not a political calculation. Eric Cantors position on immigration remains consistent.

Original post:
Tension rises in GOP leadership over immigration