The House approved several good immigration amendments to the minibus spending bill that would fund the Department of Homeland Security and several other agencies for FY 18. The immigration amendments to H.R. 3354, the Make America Secure and Prosperous Appropriations Act, covered both E-Verify and sanctuary cities.
Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) introduced several amendments to require each of the federal agencies included in the minibus to use E-Verify for all new hires. The amendments were combined into one and was passed by a voice vote.
The House also passed Rep. Jason Smith’s (R-Mo.) amendment to withhold Transportation and HUD funding from sanctuary jurisdictions. The amendment passed by a 225-to-195 margin. Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas was the only Democrat to vote for the amendment. Most Republicans voted in favor of the amendment except:
Rep. Dan Donovan (N.Y)
Rep. Pete King (N.Y)
Rep. Frank LoBiondo (N.J.)
Rep. George Reichert (Minn.)
Rep. Scott Taylor (Va.)
Rep. Pat Tiberi (Ohio)
Rep. David Valadao (Calif.)
Rep. Greg Walden (Ore.)
The House also rejected several amendments that would have cut proposed increases for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Rep. Lou Correa’s amendment to reduce ICE funding by $100,000,000 and increase funding to the Coast Guard by the same amount did not pass. The final vote was 182-to-229, with all Republicans voting against it. Five Democrats also voted against the measure, including:
Rep. Henry Cuellar (Texas)
Rep. Stephen Lynch (Mass.)
Rep. Jerry McNerney (Calif.)
Rep. Bobby Scott (Va.)
Rep. Filemon Vela (Texas)
Rep. Joaquin Castro’s amendment to prohibit ICE from using private detention facilities also failed to pass by a 183-to-230 margin. Three Democrats joined the Republicans in voting down the amendment, including:
Rep. Henry Cuellar (Texas)
Rep. Al Lawson (Fla.)
Rep. Collin Peterson (Minn.)
The House also defeated Rep. Roybal-Allard’s amendment to reduce ICE funding by $849,500,000 and increase funding to the Coast Guard by the same amount. The measure failed by a 170-to-240 vote. Rep. Don Young of Alaska was the only Republican to vote in favor of the amendment, while 15 Democrats voted against it, including:
Rep. Ami Bera (Calif.)
Rep. Cheri Bustos (Ill.)
Rep. Kathy Castor (Fla.)
Rep. Jim Cooper (Tenn.)
Rep. Brian Higgins (N.Y.)
Rep. Dan Lipinski (Ill.)
Rep. Dave Loebsack (Iowa)
Rep. Stephen Lynch (Mass.)
Rep. Sean Maloney (N.Y.)
Rep. Tom O’Halleran (Ariz.)
Rep. Scott Peters (Calif.)
Rep. Collin Peterson (Minn.)
Rep. Raul Ruiz (Calif.)
Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (Ariz.)
Rep. Thomas Suozzi (N.Y.)
Rep. Pramila Jayapal’s (D-Wash.) amendment that shifts funding from ICE enforcement to the Office of Inspector General also failed by a 180-to-230 margin. The five Democrats that joined the Republicans in voting against it include:
Rep. Henry Cuellar (Texas)
Rep. Dan Lipinski (Ill.)
Rep. Scott Peters (Calif.)
Rep. Collin Peterson (Minn.)
Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (Ariz.)
