Both top Republicans lawmakers issued lukewarm statements following the rollout of President Trump’s new merit-heavy immigration plan, signaling the party isn’t willing to go to task for a immigration bill that hasn’t been written yet and Democrats are describing as “dead on arrival.”
While both Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) offered vague support of the plan in statements, the backing was underwhelming.
“We are a nation of immigrants and we must preserve that rich part of who we are,” McConnell said in a statement, alluding to the plan’s focus on approving work visas for immigrants based on merit over family ties. “But we are a nation of laws. … I look forward to reviewing the president’s proposal.”
Earlier in the day McCarthy told reporters that the president’s plan isn’t a “complete immigration bill,” but rather a “base” from which to move forward.
“It’s something we can work from,” he said, according to the Washington Post.
In private, White House aides reportedly think the president’s speech in the Rose Garden on Thursday to announce the plan was a waste of time because they don’t think the proposal will pass in Congress, according to the Post. Democrats described the plan, which favors high-skilled workers in the immigration process, as “condescending” and are displeased that there’s no plan for “dreamers.”
Conservatives believe the proposal doesn’t go far enough to slash legal immigration.
Earlier this week, when White House senior adviser Jared Kushner presented the plan to lawmakers, Republicans were reportedly unimpressed, according to the Post. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) was reportedly displeased the proposal didn’t include a plan for “dreamers,” or recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) had reservations about the lack of a plan for the 11 million undocumented immigrants already in the United States.
Kevin and Mitch don’t want to tackle immigration at all, not after its impact o n the midterms
They will embrace it if needs be. Wait a few days.
The GOPers won’t stick their necks out to back any Immigration reform legislation, even legislation that they themselves had a hand in crafting.
What the GOP won’t admit to themselves is that this issue is not a unifying theory among it’s members.
There is no “plan”. It’s a set of talking points and ONE Powerpoint slide.
“Merit-based immigration” is what happens when you let a focus group define an issue. (Who’s is FOR “merit-less immigration?”) It’s intended to do what it’s already done, to get Democrats to be against “merit”.
But it’s really a gambit for guest workers. And it’s likely to succeed, cuz folks like Josh won’t bother to understand immigration, while Rs are happy to be hypocrites.
This is the key: to the extent “merit-based” means anything beyond eliminating the rights of US citizens to sponsor their families as new Americans, it ALSO means taking away authority for EMPLOYERS to sponsor new Americans, which they have had since the Founding.
Since tech is so happy creating an indefinitely temporary workforce with the H-1B, which Ds go along with cuz we’re dumb, and of course that alienates US workers, this is quite likely to be successful politics unless Ds figure it out.
You know, the way Ds were so successful on immigration politics in 2016.
Face it friends, there are precious few policy items the GOP WILL tackle,do nothing obstructionist stance is.in tact.