This Week in Immigration Reform – Week Ending May 30
Week Ending May 30, 2014
This week in immigration reform: Latino leaders unveil score cards evaluating all 435 Representatives, President Obama asks Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson to delay announcement of findings from review of immigration enforcement policies until the end of the summer; the House adopts an anti-immigrant amendment to the CJS appropriations bill; Rep. Gutierrez along with other members supportive of immigration reform hold a press conference calling on the House Republican leadership to address reform now.
–Latino Organizations issue National Immigration Score Cards to House members. Last WednesdayNCLR, Mi Familia Vota, LCLAA, LULAC, Voto Latino, and the Hispanic Federationreleased preliminary score card ratings for all 435 House members. A final National Immigration Score Card will be issued in the summer and the results will be delivered to Latino communities and other interested parties across the U.S. House members also received a letter notifying them that they can improve their scores before the final score card is released by passing immigration reform with an earned path to citizenship. The score card ratings to date are based on immigration related House votes that have been taken during the 113th Congress. The failure of House leaders to call for a floor vote on comprehensive immigration reform has brought down the scores of many members. You can help us hold your representatives accountable by tweeting at them using the hashtag #CIRScores or you can use the following suggested tweets: Time is running out! @HouseGOP Leadership have until Summer to act on #immigrationreform to improve their #CIRScores; Join us in demanding House members to act on #immigrationreform; Too many families are torn apart each day #CIRScores. You can also call your Representative to say that you want a vote on immigration reform.
–President Obama asks Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson to delay review of immigration enforcement policies until the end of summer. On Tuesday, senior White House officials said President Obama was looking to give Representatives space to pass immigration reform by delaying the release of Jeh Johnson’s review of current enforcement policies. While the Department of Homeland security will continue working on the review, the results will be delayed in order to encourage House Republicans to implement a permanent solution to the immigration crisis in the next coming months.
–The House adopts Rep. King’s (R-Iowa) anti-immigrant amendment to the Commerce-Justice-Science (CJS) appropriations bill. On Thursday, Rep. King’s amendment to dedicate $5 million of the Department of Justice funds to investigate the use of discretion by the Department of Homeland Security passed the House by a 218-193 vote. While the House has blocked votes for a comprehensive immigration reform, the ENLIST amendment, and other smaller immigration measures, they have chosen to allow votes on two of Rep. Steve King’s anti-immigrant amendments.
–Rep Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) calls press conference to pressure House Republicans to act on immigration. This Friday, Rep. Gutierrez along with other House Democrats, held a press conference outside the House triangle calling on his Republican colleagues to act on immigration reform. As the days before the August recess dwindle away, the days left to allow a vote on comprehensive immigration reform are counting down. 
NCLR and affiliates in action.
- California: NCLR Affiliate TODEC hosted a rally with Reps. Gutierrez and Takano (D-Calif.) to end deportations and pass comprehensive immigration reform.
