House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) has declined an invite by leading immigration reform advocate, Rep. Luis Gutiérrez (D-IL), to participate in bipartisan town hall meetings on the issue.
The invitation from the Democratic congressman was reported Wednesday afternoon by the Washington Post’s Greg Sargent. Later in the afternoon, a Goodlatte aide separately confirmed to Sargent and to TPM that the GOP chairman would not be able to take part.
“[T]he Chairman’s office received an invitation from Rep. Gutierrez late yesterday and his staff has regretted due to a prior commitment,” the aide said in an email Wednesday.
Goodlatte recently poured cold water on the prospects of the Republican-led House passing a pathway to citizenship for anyone living in the country illegally, including those brought as children. Without that provision, supporters say reform is dead.
