Migrant Policy Standoff: House GOP Negotiators Split Over Residency Programs

An update from Republican Congressman Dan Newhouse of Washington.

WASHINGTON — Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) on Wednesday reaffirmed his commitment to including the Farm Workforce Modernization Act in a bipartisan immigration reform bill currently being negotiated in the House. “It’s absolutely going to be part of the discussion and, I hope, part of the final product,” Newhouse said, expressing optimism despite significant challenges. A longtime advocate for the legislation, Newhouse has used his position on the House Agriculture Committee to elevate its importance and underscore the growing urgency for immigration reform.

The negotiations, however, have been complicated by opposition from Rep. Morgan Luttrell (R-TX), who, through a spokesperson on Tuesday, stated his opposition to granting residency to unauthorized migrants. Newhouse expressed the need for clarification on Luttrell’s stance. “I need to clarify with Morgan on what he’s actually looking toward. We need to recognize that there are people here who need some kind of legal status, and that’s w…