Senate Gang of Eight leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has repeatedly suggested he welcomes changes to the Gang of Eight\u2019s \u201ccomprehensive\u201d immigration reform bill, claiming the Gang supports an \u201copen and fair\u201d amendment process. Despite repeated public proclamations that the bill is \u201cbipartisan\u201d and that the Gang is committed to improving the amnesty bill, S. 744, they have killed every substantive amendment that would strengthen enforcement and border security. <\/p>\n
This orchestrated effort to defeat all amendments that actually require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to secure the border clearly demonstrates that the \u201cGang of Eight\u201d is really the \u201cGang of No\u201d when it comes to border security. <\/p>\n
From the outset of the full Senate amendment process, the \u201cGang of No\u201d abandoned the fa\u00e7ade of an \u201copen and fair\u201d amendment process in favor of their amnesty-first, enforcement-maybe agenda. In fact, the Senate rejected by a 57-43 vote on Sen. Chuck Grassley\u2019s (R-IA) border security amendment\u2014the first amendment offered on the Senate floor\u2014that would have prohibited the DHS Secretary from granting amnesty to illegal aliens until DHS has maintained effective control of the border for at least six months. Predictably, all four Republicans in the Gang of Eight voted \u201cNo\u201d on both of these amendments.<\/p>\n
And, in two telling votes, the Gang of Eight led the opposition against two amendments that would have simply required DHS to follow current law. Senator John Thune\u2019s (R-SD) amendment to require the construction of half of the 700 miles of reinforced, double-layered fencing along the Southern border\u2014as required by the Secure Fence Act\u2014before granting amnesty was defeated 39-54. Senator David Vitter\u2019s (R-LA) amendment that would prohibit illegal aliens from getting any legal status until a biometric entry-exit system is in place at every land, sea, and air port of entry\u2014known as US-VISIT\u2014was also defeated 36-58.<\/p>\n
As demonstrated by its own voting record, the Gang of Eight has unequivocally shown it will stand firm against any attempt to actually enhance border security and interior enforcement. Instead of being receptive to a transparent process to improve the bill, the Gang of Eight has doubled down on their amnesty-first, border security-later approach to \u201ccomprehensive\u201d immigration reform. Clearly, the Gang of Eight has demonstrated that they are more accurately known as the \u201cGang of No.\u201d
\n