President Trump indicated that he might sign “something.”
By Ray O’Hanlon
With uproar continuing to surround the detention of migrant children at the southern border the House of Representatives continued to move towards a vote, possibly on Thursday, on two immigration reform proposals, one viewed as hardline, the other as a compromise.
Republicans say that they will only need 218 votes from within their own caucus to secure passage of one of the bills, both of which have drawn supportive words from President Trump though he has given a cleaner cut endorsement of the measure considered hardline.
The president, meanwhile, was indicating Wednesday that he might sign “something” that would end the current policy of taking children from parents who arrive at the border seeking asylum.
The practice has prompted outrage and bipartisan political criticism as well as condemnation from world political leaders and Pope Francis.
Ireland’s Tánaiste and Minister for foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney, said the separation of children from their parents was “indefensible, immoral and shocking.”
“This kind of leadership gives license to other countries to follow inhumane policies towards vulnerable refugees. Is this making America great?” Mr. Coveney said in a tweet.
Many people take the view that immigration was a major factor in making America great but the bills currently before the House would severely restrict future flow and also shift the emphasis of current immigration law from family reunification to work skills based admission.
The harder line bill, crafted by House Judiciary Committee chairman, Rep. Bob Goodlatte of Virginia, envisages no clear path to citizenship for so called-Dreamers and both bills would scrap the diversity visa program, a thin visa lifeline for the Irish.
Even if a reform bill passes muster in the House there is doubt that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will allow consideration in the Senate where the GOP majority is just a couple of votes and where Democrats and Republicans considered moderate on the immigration issue would have a lot more say in crafting legislation.
