WASHINGTON — House Republicans failed to produce an immigration compromise Friday as the standoff between opposing conservative and moderate factions heads toward a showdown over an issue that has long divided the party.
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy convened a closed-door meeting as party leadership faces mounting pressure to produce an immigration bill by a Tuesday deadline.
But lawmakers emerged without a deal. With Speaker Paul Ryan away at a fundraiser, the negotiations are seen as a test for McCarthy, a potential speaker-in-waiting, to pull together the often unruly GOP majority and prevent a showdown. Talks are expected to continue.
“There’s no agreement right now,” said Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., the GOP Whip, another vying to move up the leadership ladder. Ryan is retiring after this term.
It was the second time this week leaders drew the GOP factions together to huddle privately and wade through the complexity of the immigration issue. Lawmakers were upbeat at the prospect of being presented with an outline — a pen-to-paper framework — after days of talks.
But without resolution, the centrists warn they will have enough petition signatures by Tuesday to force House votes later this month, including on their preferred bill which provides young “Dreamer” immigrants protection from deportation and a chance to apply for citizenship.
Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Calif., a leader of the moderates, exiting the meeting saying he was “disappointed” that new demands were being made. Moderates believe they have compromised a lot.
“We’re trying to close items out, not add new ones,” he said. He vowed that by Tuesday it was “extremely likely” they would have the signatures needed to push the roll calls.
The groups said they made progress toward a resolution for the young immigrants who have been living in the U.S. illegally since childhood, with a plan to protect them from deportation and provide them a bridge to legal status and eventual citizenship.
But new questions emerged over how far the package should go to clamp down on immigration enforcement in the U.S., beyond the $25 billion both sides have largely agreed to for President Donald Trump’s border wall with Mexico.
Many conservatives have opposed a pathway to citizenship for the young immigrants and want more enforcement of illegal immigration, including an end to so-called sanctuary cities.
“If there’s going to be concessions made on one side, you have to get everything that you need on the security side,” said Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa.
The flurry underscored the escalating pressure Republicans face to address immigration, an issue pitting centrists representing Hispanic and moderate voters against conservatives with deep-red constituents sympathetic to Trump’s anti-immigrant outbursts.
Painfully aware of those divisions, leaders had seemed happy to sidestep the issue as they head into campaign season for the fall midterm elections until the moderates’ rebellion forced their hand. If enough signatures are collected Tuesday, the House would be on track to have roll call votes on various proposals on June 25.
Ryan and GOP leaders are trying desperately to stop the moderates’ preferred bill from coming to the floor. It would draw widespread Democratic support and leaders say passage would damage the party’s electoral prospects by souring GOP voters.
