Senior White House adviser Stephen Miller signaled that the White House supports Republican efforts to pass two separate immigration bills next week.
Following a Wednesday meeting with House Republicans, Miller told reporters that “both the bills are being finalized right now, but we strongly support what they’re doing.”
Miller stopped short of totally endorsing the bills in their current form but clarified the “White House supports the effort to arrive at a bill that will get 218 votes.”
On Tuesday, Republican leadership announced that it would bring two immigration bills to the floor for a vote next week in an effort to ease the caucus gridlock that has hindered immigration reform over the past several months.
“Members across the Republican Conference have negotiated directly and in good faith with each other for several weeks,” a GOP leadership aide stated Tuesday evening. “The House will consider two bills next week that will avert the discharge petition and resolve the border security and immigration issues.”
One of the bills being voted on, authored by Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., would legalize Dreamers, end the diversity visa program, require employers to use E-Verify, and establish a guest worker program.
President Trump has previously stated that he will not sign any bill that does not contain his four immigration “pillars”: securing the border through the construction of a wall, reduce chain migration, end the visa lottery system and provide a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers.
