Sens. Ted Cruz (R., Texas), Chuck Grassley (R., Iowa), Jeff Sessions (R. Ala.), and Mike Lee (R., Ariz.) sent a letter to their colleagues on Tuesday opposing the immigration reform legislation proposed by the Gang of Eight after the Senate Judiciary Committee rejected their amendments.
"During the Senate Judiciary Committee’s consideration of S. 744, common-sense amendments offering real solutions were rejected," wrote the senators. "The bill’s proponents repeatedly referenced an alterable ‘deal’ that had been struck beforehand. As a result, the core provisions of the bill remain the same."
The senators wrote that the current bill would "leave our borders unsecure and our immigration system deeply dysfunctional" and added that "the bill’s already serious flaws were exacerbated by the adoption of several amendments that significantly weaken current law, hamstring law enforcement, and further complicate our legal immigration system."
The letter notes numerous amendments that were rejected by the committee, including an amendment sponsored by Grassley to make members of criminal gangs inadmissible for legalization, an amendment sponsored by Lee that would require illegal immigrants to pay back taxes before receiving citizenship, an amendment sponsored by Cruz that would make illegal immigrants ineligible for welfare benefits, and an amendment sponsored by Sessions requiring a social security number for those attempting to claim a child tax credit.
The senators also objected to multiple amendments that were adopted by the committee, including one that would restrict immigration enforcement actions at schools and hospitals and another that would give immigration judges more flexibility in blocking deportations.
"Americans expect their government to end the lawlessness, not surrender to it," wrote the senators. "They deserve immigration reform with actual border security, enforcement of the laws on the books, and a legal immigration system that works. We must welcome and celebrate legal immigrants. But S. 744 fails to deliver anything more than the same empty promises Washington has been making for 30 years."
Conservative activist leaders have been divided on the legislation, which was crafted by a bipartisan group of eight senators. Two coalitions of conservative leaders issued dueling letters on the bill last month.
Two of the three unions that represent government immigration enforcement officials have come out against the legislation.
The Gang of Eight bill is expected to go before the full senate for debate at the beginning of next week.