Congress Members Call for Immigration Reform, But Concede it Can’t Happen in an Election Year

Members of the San Diego Congressional delegation called Friday for bipartisan immigration reform, but agreed that nothing substantial can happen until after the November election.

“We have a lot of people who are showing up wanting to work. We should have a process that allows them to do that,” said Rep. Juan Vargas, whose district stretches along the border into Imperial County.

But he said the “well is poisoned” because former President Trump rejected a groundbreaking Senate deal in February.

“It’s really just the latest example of Congress getting close but not being able to get across the finish line,” Rep. Mike Levin lamented.

Vargas, Levin and Reps. Darrell Issa, Sara Jacobs and Scott Peters answered questions for over an hour at the annual legislative luncheon sponsored by the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce at the Omni Hotel downtown.

All of the five agreed that bipartisan immigration reform is possible, but Issa, the sole Republican, said increased enforcement is key to reforming the system. He pointed out that during the George W. Bush administration, reform died because of enforcement concerns.

“You have to show that you can enforce the border,” Issa stressed.

Other issues discussed ranged from the state of the economy to child care to the outcome of the November election and trust in government.

Jacobs expressed the most optimism from a party standpoint about the upcoming election, saying she believed President Biden would be reelected and Democrats would take the House and Senate.

She said American women’s desire to maintain reproductive rights following the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade would drive Democratic turnout.

“We are continuing to see horrific stories about what’s happening to women,” Jacobs said.

Others in the delegation were less forthcoming in their election predictions.

Issa said one problem with trust in government is that too few lawmakers “see the glass as half full.” He said Americans can be proud of their world-beating economy and their country’s achievements.

“We’re in great shape compared to almost any place on the planet,” he said.

Peters had the last word, and praised the bipartisan work of the San Diego delegation and the local community’s “culture of optimism.”

‘In Washington they’re looking backwards and they hold grudges. Here we have a culture of optimism,” he said.