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05/14/2024 11:44:10 am

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GOP-Led House Passes Dead-On-Arrival Border Bill

Border Crisis, Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) arrives for a Republican meeting at the Capitol, Washington, August 1, 2014.

(Photo : REUTERS/Joshua Roberts) Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) arrives for a Republican meeting at the Capitol, Washington, August 1, 2014.

Republican House Representatives passed a bill late Friday that would effectively allow quicker deportation proceedings for migrant youths, winning over the GOP-led house with another legislation that could lead to the deportation of at least half a million immigrants who were granted temporary work permits under Obama's deferred action program.  

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While Senate has already adjourned for the summer recess with no legislation on a resolution for the border crisis, GOP house representatives showed their determination to address issue - although the two bills are not expected to advance at least until September.

The first bill passed 223-189 on Friday evening with one Democrat voting "yes" and four Republicans "no."

It contained a revised US$694 million budget that would provide funding to reimburse states for National Guard deployments, increase spending of border agencies, provide for more judges and detention centers, and amend a 2008 law to eliminate deportation hearings for immigrant children.

The companion was passed 216-192 with four Democrats voting in favor and 11 Republicans voting "no."

According to the Associated Press, the companion bill is intended to shut down Obama's deferred action program while also preventing some 700,000 immigrants already granted temporary work permits from renewing them, which would ultimately result in their deportation.

Immigrant support groups and Democrats protested the GOP House's plans, with some saying that the bill risked alienating immigrant constituents for many years and accused House Republicans of putting thousands of migrant children at risk.

Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) said the bills were the "most mean-spirited and anti-immigrant pieces of legislation" he has ever encountered.

President Obama has already vetoed the bill, calling them "extreme" and "unworkable."

"They're not even trying to solve the problem. I'm going to have to act alone because we do not have enough resources," he said.

He said he would try to find other alternatives but said his options would be limited without congressional approval.

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