The primary that shocked the nation has positioned Kevin McCarthy, R-CA, as the front-runner in the election for House Majority Leader, which is set to take place on June 19. But the question remains: with all the talk about the future of immigration reform, how might McCarthy shape the debate?
McCarthy has indicated that he would support a path to legal status for undocumented immigrants, though not citizenship, allowing them to work and pay taxes. To appease those on the far right, he asserts that “if you want to become a citizen, you’ll have to go through the path. There won’t be amnesty inside it.”
At the same time, Latinos make up 35 percent of McCarthy’s district, which could have a positive influence on him advocating for reform, if he is elected.
Some Republicans, however, want a candidate for Majority Leader who would enforce stricter border enforcement without a path to citizenship. They are still trying to find a candidate who will take a tougher stance on immigration.
“What happened to Cantor is going to put a lot of Republican House members on notice,” said Ira Mehlman, spokesman for the Federation for American Immigration Reform, an organization that pushes for stricter immigration enforcement. This may force inaction on the debate until after the elections in November.
McCarthy may not be able to influence this debate. He may not be elected to Majority leader. There are still a lot of question marks. But the need for immigration reform is not one of them, and the American people deserve a Congressional leader—Republican or Democrat—who will fight for what is right.
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