Earlier today, Republican immigration thought leader Congressman Raul Labrador complained about the portrayal of House Republicans as having done nothing on immigration. He’s correct – House Republicans have done a lot of damage when it comes to immigration.
House Republicans have voted to deport DREAMers and for more than 500 days have stalled bipartisan immigration reform which, according to the American Action Network, would create 6 million jobs. Republicans deserve more media attention for their anti-immigration votes.
“Congressman Labrador and his fellow House Republicans have shortchanged the economy by taking hardline stances against America’s immigrant community – and the public deserves to know about it,” said Josh Schwerin of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “We stand with Congressman Labrador and join his call to have the press acknowledge the bold stances they’ve taken to weaken our economy and make this country less welcoming.”
BACKGROUND:
Rep. @Raul_Labrador blasts Obama for dishonest claim that GOP hasn’t done anything on immigration -challenges media to hold him accountable
— Charlie Spiering (@charliespiering) December 2, 2014
House Republicans Voted to Restart Deportations of an Estimated 800,000 DREAM Act Eligible Young People. In 2013, House Republicans voted for an amendment to the 2014 Homeland Security appropriations bill that would have prohibited the use of Immigration and Customs Enforcement funds to implement President Obama’s June 2012 order that protects the “DREAMers” from deportation—those estimated 800,000 young undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children and have since led law-abiding lives. The amendment also prohibits other prosecutorial discretion policies that ensure the agency’s immigration enforcement resources are targeted at serious criminals, and not at those who pose no threat to U.S. communities, such as victims of domestic violence and other crimes who come forward to seek protection and identify their abusers. The amendment passed, 224-201. [H.R. 2217, Vote #208, 6/06/13; Associated Press, 6/06/13]
American Action Network Estimated that Immigration Reform would Create Six Million Jobs by 2023. “The AAN estimates that an average of 14,000 jobs per congressional district – and 6 million jobs in total – would be created by the reform by the year 2023. That’s twice as much as a Social Security actuary’s report on the positive job growth stemming from giving legal status and a path to citizenship for many of the nation’s estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants.” [Latin Times, 8/21/13]