Trump-backed immigration bill stalled

WASHINGTON — Republican leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday delayed a vote until Friday on a “moderate” immigration bill amid chaos over the White House practice of separating families who illegally cross the U.S. border.

The decision came just after the House rejected a “hardline” immigration bill with 193 votes in favor and 231 against earlier on the day. Every Democrat and 41 Republicans voted against it.

Republican House leaders since decided they need more time to rally support to secure 218 votes for the “moderate” legislation.

Both bills were backed by the White House, whose “zero tolerance” policy against illegal immigration has come under fire home and abroad over the forced separation of children from their parents entering the United States illegally.

Under the so-called “moderate” or “compromise” bill, the Donald Trump government will stop the forced migrant family separation, get 25 billion dollars to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, and allow up to 1.8 million Dreamers, the recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival program, to apply for U.S. citizenship.

The failed “hardline” bill would have provided funding for a border wall, ended the diversity visa lottery program, limited family-based visas, created an agriculture guest worker program requiring employers to use the E-Verify program and allowed for the federal government to cut funding for sanctuary cities.

Earlier on Thursday, House Speaker Paul Ryan defended his decision to bring both the hardline and moderate bills to the floor.

“We’re giving the members the ability to vote for the policy of their preference,” Ryan said Thursday morning. “The bills that are coming to the floor today are bills that if it got to [Trump’s] desk he would sign it into law. Therefore it is a legitimate exercise.”