A Press Event meant to tout Conservative Hispanic Support for a Hard-Line Immigration Bill instead brought into sharp relief the Deep Divisions among Latino Republicans on the Issue.
The retiring Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R, VA-6th District.), the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and Main Sponsor of Securing America’s Future Act (H.R. 4760), hosted the Event, inviting Conservative Hispanic Groups to Speak in Support of his Bill.
H.R. 4760
This Bill Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to Revise Immigrant Visa Allocation Provisions, including Family-Related Visas.
- A Nonimmigrant Classification for Parents of Adult U.S. Citizens is created.
- The Diversity Visa Program is Eliminated.
- Annual Immigration Levels are Revised.
- The Limit on the Worldwide Level of Employment-based Immigrants is Increased.
- The H-2C Visa Temporary Agricultural Worker Program (Agriculture Guest Worker Program) is Revised. A Trust Fund is established to provide Incentives for such Workers to Return to their Country of Origin.
- DNA Testing to establish Family Relationships.
- Employment Eligibility Verification Provisions are Revised. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shall establish an Employment Verification System. New E-Verify Program to check the Immigration Status of Workers.
- No Federal, State, or Local Government Entity or Individual may Prohibit or Restrict a Federal, State, or Local Government Entity or Official from Complying with the Immigration Laws or Assisting related Federal Law Enforcement Activities. Allowing the Administration to Withhold Federal Money from Sanctuary Cities.
The Bill Revises Provisions regarding:
(1) Detention of Aliens in Removal Proceedings
(2) Illegal Entry and Reentry
(3) Inadmissibility and Deportability of Criminal Aliens, Gang Members, Drunk Drivers, and Sex Offenders
(4) Repatriation
(5) Asylum and Asylum Fraud
(6) Unaccompanied Alien Children
(7) Foreign Students
(8) Visa Fraud
The Bill:
(1) Transfers Authority for Strengthening the Southern Border from the Department of Justice to DHS.
(2) Revises Border Security Provisions.
(3) Provides for additional Border Security Personnel.
(4) Authorizes New Ports of Entry along the Northern and Southern Borders.
(5) Authorizes National Guard Border Security Activities.
(6) Provides Contingent Nonimmigrant Status for certain Aliens who entered the United States as Minors. Protections for so-called Dreamers.
(7) Authorizes Appropriations for Specified Border Barriers and Infrastructure.
(8) Establishes Operation Stonegarden to make Border Security Grants to Law Enforcement Agencies.
DHS shall:
(1) Submit a Southern Border Threat Analysis.
(2) Establish the Integrated Border Enforcement Team Program.
(3) Implement the Border Security Deployment Program.
(4) Review Social Media Activities of Visa Applicants.
(5) Establish a Biometric Exit Data System.
Because of some of these Provisions, the Bill is Unanimously Opposed by House Democrats and does not yet have 218 Votes from Republicans, with most Hispanic groups Opposing it.
The Main Organizer of Goodlatte’s Event, Alfonso Aguilar, the President of the Latino Partnership for Conservative Principles, said even he has Misgivings about the Bill. Aguilar said he's against the Bill's stated Goal of Reducing Legal Immigration by 25%, and others said they want a Special Path to Citizenship for Dreamers, which Goodlatte's Bill does Not Provide for.
Some of the Hispanic Advocates invited to the Event were Upset that Press Materials mentioned their Names, which they said suggested Support for the Bill itself. Representatives of 10 Conservative Hispanic Groups were listed on a Release from the House Judiciary Committee. Five of the Eleven invited Guests didn’t show up, including Omar Franco of the Latino Coalition, who said he would never have attended an Event for Legislation he strongly Opposes. He said listing his Name made it seem like he supports Goodlatte’s Legislation. “I simply RSVP'd to an event and I was shocked and surprised to be put up as a supporter of a bill I haven't even read,” said Franco, a Republican Lobbyist and former Chief of Staff to Rep. Mario Diaz Balart (R-Fla.).
“That bill is a sellout to the entire community, we would never support something like that.” Franco added the Bill doesn't meet any of the Latino Coalition's Three Criteria for Support: That it's Positive for the Country, for the Hispanic Community, and for Small Businesses.
The Latino Coalition is among the most Influential Hispanic Groups that maintain an Active Relationship with Trump; he was the Keynote Speaker at the Group's Annual Summit last week. Yohana de la Torre, a Spokeswoman for The Latino Coalition, said the Group hasn't yet put out an Official Position on the Goodlatte Bill because the Full Text of the Proposal hasn't been made available to them.
The Four other Conservative Leaders named on the Release who did not show up were Rev. Tony Suárez and Rev. Gus Reyes of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, Lourdes Aguirre of Eres America, and Danny Vargas, the former Chairman of the National Republican Hispanic Assembly.
A Second Release from the Judiciary Committee, released after the Press Conference, only included the Names of the Guests who Spoke at the Event.
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