Yesterday, Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) effectively squashed the possibility of passing comprehensive immigration reform legislation this year, blaming President Barack Obama for stalled negotiations. During a midday news conference on Capitol Hill, Boehner said “There’s widespread doubt about whether this administration can be trusted to enforce our laws,” and that reform has a slim chance of passing until that perception among House Republicans changes.
The announcement comes a week after the GOP released a statement of principles for immigration policy—including a path to legal status for undocumented immigrants—which were seen by some as a positive step toward making a deal on reform. However, facing increasing conservative opposition to pursuing reform in a midterm election year, Boehner has decided to back down for now. Representative Raúl Labrador (R-ID) went so far as to say that Boehner’s earlier support of reform legislation should cost him his speakership.
The White House defended President Obama’s record of enforcing border security and other immigration laws, having already deported nearly 2 million immigrants. And while the chances for comprehensive reform appear bleak, House Republicans like Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and others are still working on piecemeal legislation to address Dreamers, visas for low-skilled workers, and increase security enforcement.
