New Bill to Prevent Separation of Immigrant Families

A new Republican bill could prevent the separation of immigrant minors from their parents at the US border, while also including a further $25 billion for border security and terminating the diversity lottery, with voting on the measure expected as early as next week.

A senior party aide confirmed the provision of the new bill to NBC, who also says that Republicans in the House of Representatives were briefed last week by Speaker, Paul Ryan, that it would be a part of any new immigration bill. The compromise bill would offer protection for the 1.8 million undocumented immigrants who came to the US while still underage, known as Dreamers. Representative, Jeff Denham, says the Republican leadership is committed to completing the text of the bill by the end of this week.

Denham is part of the assembly of moderate Republicans who attempted to vote on immigration measures on the House floor but was able to reach a deal to have two votes on the floor next week with conservatives, one on a conservative bill that House Judiciary Committee Chairman, Bob Goodlatte, is sponsoring, and the compromise bill.

Only a general outline of the latter has so far been completed, but both will be voted on next week. Ryan says that President Donald Trump has pledged to back the compromise bill, which will protect not just the current deferred action recipients but also all who are eligible, including those who have ‘aged in’, according to Denham.