House Appropriators weaken immigration law enforcement with approval of Democratic amendments

By Jennifer G. Hickey | July 26, 2018

On Wednesday, the House Appropriations Committee approved by a 29-22 vote the FY2019 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Appropriations bill. The measure included approximately $5 billion in border security funds, including money for construction of a wall.

However, the bill contained several negative provisions, including one to remove per country caps from legal immigrant admissions, which would create a discriminatory system that favors a handful of countries.

Republicans on the committee failed to prevent the passage of several Democratic amendments that undermine efforts to enforce U.S. immigration law, including limiting the use of federal funds to deport DACA recipients and zeroing out funding to implement new restrictions on asylum seekers.

House Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee Chairman Kevin Yoder (R-Kansas) added an amendment directing the inspector general of the Department of Homeland Security to report to Congress in 30 days on the status of family reunification. He also co-authored an amendment to make funding available for mental health services for children being held in federal custody.

“The American people should be outraged that Republican appropriators – led by Kansas Congressman Kevin Yoder – joined with anti-borders Democrats in an attempt to drastically change our immigration laws through must-pass spending legislation,” said FAIR President Dan Stein in a press release.