The Republican–led U.S. House will not take up immigration reform this year.
Republican leadership announced Thursday a bipartisan bill won’t go up for a vote anytime soon.
U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Miami, who represents parts of Collier and Miami Dade Counties, has been trying to get immigration reform passed in the U.S. House for years.
Recently, he crafted a bill aimed at pleasing both Democrats and Republicans. However, after months of push and pull, GOP leadership announced they won’t take a vote on the bill.
Diaz-Balart said it’s disappointing, but he won’t stop pushing for reform.
“I, for one, am not willing to give up,” he said. “And I will continue to work until we can finally fix this system—this broken immigration system—that everyone, by the way, recognizes is dysfunctional. So, I am ready to proceed at any time. And I am hoping that that opportunity will come, but obviously I am disappointed that right now it looks like I am not going to be allowed to do that.”
He said the current situation at the southern border—where there’s been a drastic influx of unaccompanied minors coming into the country—is part of the reason Republicans are hesitant to take up reform. But, Diaz Balart said what’s happening is further proof of the need to change the country’s laws.
The fact that this is an election year also made the chance of immigration reform less likely. Last year, the Democrat-led U.S. Senate passed a bipartisan comprehensive immigration bill.
