San Jose Mercury News -- Tracy Seipel
A first-in-the-nation bill aimed at expanding health care for illegal immigrants sailed through the Senate on Tuesday even as some lawmakers acknowledged that thousands of legal residents are having to struggle to access health care through the state's Medi-Cal program.
Former Arkansas governor and 2016 Republican presidential candidate, Mike Huckabee, addressed his stance on immigration in an interview with Breitbart News Sunday. While Gov. Huckabee spoke out against tech companies abusing the H-1B guest worker program in order to replace American workers, he indicated that the immigration debate is too focused on how many people are coming into the country and we need to "get as many people here that want to come."
Houston Herald -- Jason Smith
This week we scored a major victory for the rule of law when a federal judge upheld a lower court’s order to stop implementation of President Obama’s executive amnesty. This is the latest development in a court case filed by 26 states to halt President Obama’s actions which would prevent illegal immigrants from being deported.
The 5th Circuit of the Federal Court of Appeals rejected an emergency request by the Obama administration to lift an injunction on President Obama's plan to grant amnesty and work permits to millions of illegal aliens. The temporary injunction was put in place after 26 states sued the Obama administration alleging the plan is unconstitutional.
A report released by the Obama Administration states that the federal government should cease utilizing local and state police while enforcing immigration law. The recommendation comes as part of a task force, in conjunction with the Department of Justice, set up by the president to help rebuild trust between police and the communities they work in.
Rep. Bill Posey (R-Fla.) has introduced H.R. 2278, the SAFE for America Act, that would eliminate the annual Visa Lottery. The Visa Lottery issues 55,000 greencards per year to foreign citizens of countries that have lower rates of immigration to the United States. The greencards are awarded, however, through a random lottery drawing and without consideration of the recipients educational attainment or work skills.
Ken Blackwell -- Christian Post
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, an expected GOP presidential candidate, drew the ire of the political right and left recently over his comments on immigration. When it comes to the immigration issue, Republicans are expected to use the tried and true, consultant tested "secure the border" talking point and move on to other issues.
The House Rules Committee approved votes for 135 amendments last night to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), including an amendment offered by Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.) that would strip out language, encouraging the Secretary of Defense to waive enlistment requirements for illegal aliens. The Committee also blocked Rep. Jeff Denham's (R-Calif.) military amnesty amendment from a floor vote.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) filed an amendment yesterday to the Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) bill to "lock in assurances that this legislation cannot be used to change federal immigration law." Senate Democrats blocked the bill from coming to the floor earlier this week, however, after negotiations, the bill will come back to the floor for a vote.
The Cato Institute, along with several law professors, has filed an amicus brief supporting the lawsuit filed by 26 states challenging President Obama's executive action to grant amnesty and work permits to millions of illegal aliens. Joining Cato in the brief are South Texas College of Law professor, Josh Blackman, George Mason University School of Law professor, Jeremy A. Rabkin, and Roger Williams University School of Law professor, Peter S. Margulies.