Stubborn centrist Republicans are pushing the party to embrace legal protections for Dreamers, hoping to quell unrest at home ahead of challenging midterm elections.
The effort could spark an explosive intraparty rift that could cost Republicans control of the House in November. House GOP leaders aren’t happy — neither are the immigration hawks that dominate the party. But the centrists, many under pressure in in districts with concentrations of Hispanics, are undeterred.
Many see an existential threat to their re-election if Washington doesn’t legalize illegal immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children through no fault of their own, and are wielding a rarely used parliamentary procedure in the House to force a vote on legislation that would codify the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.
“You could make that case … yes,” Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Calif., said when asked directly in a brief interview if there was a political imperative behind his bid to compel a vote on DACA legislation.
The congressman is a leading centrist negotiator on immigration, and the driver of a “discharge petition” to require a floor vote on a Dreamer package, should party leaders block legislation through normal channels. Denham is running for re-election in a Central Valley district aggressively targeted by the Democrats. The district is more than 40 percent Hispanic and voted for Democrat Hillary Clinton over President Trump in 2016.
Facing the possibility of severe political headwinds, Denham and centrists in similar political peril believe they have no choice but to force the issue now, despite the proximity to the midterm. “It is important for me from a policy perspective, for my constituents and my family,” Denham added. “Neither party has made this a priority, and so we are making it a priority now.”
Denham and his centrist partners have been in talks with House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and conservative immigration hawks, to negotiate consensus legislation or possibly an agreement to vote on additional bills that would satisfy Republicans opposed to a standalone DACA package. Discharge petition organizers claim to have enough commitments to force a floor vote if talks fail, although that is unclear.
The issue is frustrating House Republican leaders.
The GOP is defending a 24-seat majority, in danger because of dissatisfaction with Trump’s polarizing leadership. Senior Republicans would prefer to close ranks and focus on undermining the Democrats, rather than engaging in a messy debate on a politically sensitive matter that could roil committed midterm voters.
“This is just what we need to do, depress our base in a year when it’s all about the base turning out,” a House Republican leadership aide said, on condition of anonymity in order to speak candidly. “The members that think they need [DACA] for survival are delusional.”
Denham emphasized that the decision to push for DACA legislation five months before Election Day was dictated partly by Trump.
Last fall, the president announced he would discontinue the executive DACA program implemented by President Barack Obama, saying it was unconstitutional. Trump set a March deadline for Congress to send him a bill, but it got bogged down amid partisan disagreement. Denham said centrists are trying to comply with the president’s request.
There could be unintended consequences, however, especially this close to the election.
The Republican grassroots staunchly oppose illegal immigration, and has exhibited deep suspicion, at best, of DACA legislation. Yes, Trump said he wanted to codify the program — but only if the Democrats agreed to significant concessions on border security and a reduction in legal immigration levels.
Conservatives opposed to a DACA bill are warning that acquiescence to the centrists would meet with stiff resistance back in their districts, and beyond. That could matter a great deal in an environment where, unlike the midterm years of 2010 and 2014, the Democrats are energized to vote and put a check on Trump’s power.
Conservatives additionally point to Trump’s victory in 2016, and his campaign promise to get tough on illegal immigration, as proof that the argument by centrists that the political imperative to act on DACA does not exist.
“It does send the wrong message that a Republican House can’t get a conservative immigration out of the House, and that’s problematic and that is a demotivating factor,” said Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., a leading conservative and chairman of the House Freedom Caucus. “I think it creates additional pressure on the president to make it clear that we’re going to continue with his campaign promises.”
Al Weaver contributed to this report
