Joe A. Souza: Denham support for his own law is half-hearted

Last week, the House of Representatives voted against an amendment allowing young undocumented immigrants to enlist in the military. No, not the amendment you’re thinking of – Rep. Jeff Denham’s (R-Turlock) highly publicized ENLIST Act. Despite similar intent, the House never even voted on Denham’s legislation. Could be because Denham was a no-show at the House Rules Committee, which decides which amendments will be voted on.

This begs the question: is Denham fighting for immigration reform or for show? Is he trying to win of the votes of those praying for reform, whose families are being torn apart by flawed laws? Denham introduced his ENLIST Act multiple times without results. He vowed to pass immigration reform, but wouldn’t help force a vote on it. Denham chalks it up to Republican leadership obstruction, but it looks like he isn’t committed to the cause if he didn’t bother to fight for his own bill.

I guess this isn’t all that surprising from the man who agreed that all illegal immigrants should be “arrested, detained, and deported,” who opposed the federal DREAM Act, and supported Arizona’s radical anti-immigrant law in 2010. Keep that in mind next time Denham “fights for immigration reform.”

This story was originally published May 20, 2015 at 1:11 PM with the headline "Joe A. Souza: Denham support for his own law is half-hearted."