Denham helps pitch bipartisan DACA solution

Jeff Denham and 39 other congressional representatives from both parties joined Tuesday to announce legislation aimed at protecting Dreamers from deportation as well as strengthening border security.

Denham and a handful of the coalition's leaders appeared at a press conference to unveil what they're calling the U.S.A. Act, a bipartisan effort with backing from 20 congressional Republicans and 20 Democrats. It's purposely not a comprehensive immigration fix, but narrowly tailored in hopes of getting something soon to President Donald Trump before Friday's deadline for avoiding a government shutdown.

Children of immigrants "have graduated next to our kids. They know of no other country to call home," said Denham, R-Turlock. In his previous military career, "I served side by side with many immigrants that gained their citizenship by showing their oath and allegiance to this country and being willing to fight for our freedoms," he said.

Leading the charge are Representatives Will Hurd, a Texas Republican, and Pete Aguilar, a Democrat from California. They invited a handful of lawmakers to speak alongside them at Tuesday's press conference, including Denham.

Their bill would not touch the controversial aspects of a proposal in the Senate, including changes to family-based migration and the diversity visa lottery. The House bill, its 40 co-sponsors argue, is just narrow enough to win bipartisan support in both chambers without alienating key minority groups, like the Senate plan might, by Friday's deadline.

"Let's start with something that's narrow. Let's start with something that everybody agrees on," Hurd said.

Said Denham, "We're going to put something on (Trump's) desk he can support."

Party leaders on both sides of the aisle are aware of the House proposal but have not publicly endorsed the bill.

"(The) bill will provide certainty and clarity to hundreds of thousands of Dreamers and their loved ones who worry every day whether they'll be able to continue living, working and serving their communities in the only country they know as home," said FWD.us President Todd Schulte, in a release.

Denham, first elected to The House in 2010, is targeted by Democratic leadership as vulnerable in this year's elections. Seven Democrats and two independents have entered the race, with the top two vote-getters in the June Primary vying for the 10th Congressional District in November. The district contains Stanislaus County and part of San Joaquin County.

Politico magazine contributed to this report.

Garth Stapley: 209-578-2390

This story was originally published January 16, 2018 at 4:24 PM with the headline "Denham helps pitch bipartisan DACA solution."