House Republicans careen toward immigration showdown

As lawmakers left Washington for the Memorial Day recess in late May, GOP centrists gave immigration hard-liners a choice: Allow a vote on a bill that includes a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers — or we’ll team with Democrats to force votes on bipartisan immigration legislation you hate.

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But most House Freedom Caucus members are spurning the offer. Several told POLITICO they see no reason to relent on the citizenship issue. A “special pathway,” as they call it, would only betray their beliefs and their base — for a vote on a bill that has no chance of becoming law.

“Negotiations are ongoing, but … I do not believe that the American people elected Republicans to create any type of ‘special pathway’ to citizenship for the DACA individuals,” said Freedom Caucus founder Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), who’s negotiating with moderates and GOP leaders. “So we’re trying to work around that. That to me is a real concern.”

The stalemate between the two wings of the conference all but assures a chaotic June for Ryan.

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