Conservatives: Immigration provision a 'severe threat' to defense bill
House conservatives are trying to stoke opposition to pro-immigration measures in a must-pass defense policy bill headed to the floor next week.
At issue is a provision in the sprawling National Defense Authorization Act that would encourage the Pentagon to consider allowing young immigrants protected by a 2012 Obama administration initiative to serve in the U.S. military.
The immigration measure, sponsored by Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), was included in the NDAA on a 33-30 vote last week in committee. In a new letter from Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.), signed by two dozen other House Republicans, conservatives are pushing House leadership to strip that provision out — calling it a "severe threat" to the prospects of passing the NDAA.
"This controversial immigration language greatly increases the risk of the NDAA's failure to pass the House," the Republican lawmakers wrote in the letter, obtained by POLITICO, to House Rules Committee Chairman Pete Sessions (R-Texas). They noted that if the immigration language isn't removed in the Rules Committee — the powerful panel that deals with amendments and parameters for floor debate — they will offer a measure to remove the language.
Pointing to the previous times that the House has voted to undermine the 2012 administration directive — called Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals — the lawmakers contended that Gallego's amendment "contradicts the House's previous provision."
Gallego's proposal is non-binding and doesn't force actual policy changes. Still, the narrow committee vote reflects how divisive the immigration issue continues to be on Capitol Hill.
The amendment passed with the support of all Democrats and six House Republicans: Mike Coffman of Colorado, Chris Gibson of New York, Frank LoBiondo of New Jersey, Tom MacArthur of New Jersey, Martha McSally of Arizona and Ryan Zinke of Montana.
"This shouldn't be a controversial issue," Gallego said in an e-mailed statement Wednesday. "The Secretary of Defense has the authority to deem what is in the national interest of the United States, and all we are asking is for him to consider allowing DACA recipients who meet the criteria and want to serve, into our military for that same reason."
Jill Shatzen, a spokeswoman for the Rules Committee, noted that the panel is still accepting amendments and that "each will be carefully considered."
The immigration issue could spill out in a bigger way. Rep. Jeff Denham (R-Calif.), an advocate of immigrants in the military, is again pushing for a vote on a measure that would be more aggressive than what Gallego has proposed.
Denham is calling for a vote on legislation that would allow young undocumented immigrants — known as Dreamers — to be able to earn green cards by serving in the military. In an interview last week, Denham said he would push for a vote on the amendment on "every opportunity I get," including as an amendment to the NDAA — even though he was rebuffed last year by House GOP leadership.
"This is an issue where we've all identified a problem that deserves a resolution," Denham said. "If we can't even start the immigration debate, with the kids that want to serve in a patriotic fashion, then I think the whole immigration debate is going to be a challenge.
Source: Seung Min Kim, Politico