House Republicans look to tee up immigration bills

Chris Johnson, CQ-Roll Call on Jan 2, 2025

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WASHINGTON — House Republicans have included five immigration-related measures in an initial package of rules for the 119th Congress, potentially teeing up early floor votes on an issue that the GOP heavily leaned into during the 2024 campaign.

The bills appear to be versions of legislation the House passed during the 118th Congress but stalled in the Democrat-controlled Senate.

Among the targets are sanctuary cities, consistent with President-elect Donald Trump’s campaign promises to bring down the hammer on municipalities that refuse to cooperate with immigration officials in removing undocumented migrants.

If approved, the rules package would set up a potential floor vote on legislation that would cut off federal funds for municipalities considered “sanctuary cities” if they intend to use that money for the benefit of undocumented immigrants.

Rep. Nick LaLota, R-N.Y., introduced a similar measure that passed in September 2024 on a 219-186 vote.

Other immigration-related items in the rules package would set up votes for legislation that would:

•Require the secretary of Homeland Security to take into custody migrants who have been charged in the United States with theft.

•Amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide that migrants who have committed sex offenses or domestic violence are inadmissible and deportable.

•Make the assault of a law enforcement officer a deportable offense.

•Impose criminal and immigration penalties for intentionally fleeing a pursuing federal officer while operating a motor vehicle.

In the 118th Congress, Rep. Andrew Garbarino, R-N.Y., introduced similar legislation on the issue of migrants attacking police officers in the aftermath of high-profile incidents in his state. The House passed the bill in May 2023 on a 255-175 vote. Sen. Ted Budd, R-N.C., sought to amend comparable legislation to a funding measure on the Senate floor in March 2024, but Democrats refused to allow it to come up for a vote.

Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., previously introduced legislation against migrants who commit sex offenses or domestic violence, and Rep. Juan Ciscomani, R-Ariz., filed a bill against operating a motor vehicle within 100 miles of the U.S. border while fleeing immigration officials or certain law enforcement officials. The House passed both bills last year.

It’s unclear whether each of the measures will get a floor vote. House Republicans also put a slate of measures in the rules package for the 118th Congress in January 2023. While several received floor votes and passed the House, the two immigration bills that were included were sent back to committee instead.

One of those bills, by Texas Republican Rep. Chip Roy, sought to require the Department of Homeland Security to detain migrants until their asylum claims had been adjudicated, and prevent asylum seekers from entering the country if the authorities did not have the ability to detain them.

The other, by Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., would require notification to Immigration and Customs Enforcement and state and local law enforcement when a background check found that a prospective firearm buyer is illegally or unlawfully in the United States.