USA Today (by Alan Gomez): The House of Representatives approved its version of the Violence Against Women Act on Wednesday, and some GOP strategists worry that it could further hurt the party's standing with Hispanics even as they try to court the ever-growing voting bloc.
The House bill adds new requirements to illegal immigrants who claim to be victims of domestic violence. In an election season that has seen Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush call on the GOP to soften its tone against immigrants, GOP strategist Lionel Sosa worries that the Republican-authored House bill will lead to attack ads and further damage their standing among Hispanic voters.
"It certainly could become a wedge issue, and something that could be used against (Republican nominee Mitt) Romney," said Sosa, who served as a Hispanic media consultant to Republican presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush and advised the failed presidential campaigns of John McCain and Newt Gingrich.
Sosa cautioned that voters are able to make the distinction between actions taken by members of the party and those of Romney himself. But Democrats view the House version of the Violence Against Women Act as the latest example of a party that continues to doom itself with Hispanic voters.
"There's been some truly alarming, unacceptable rhetoric about immigrants and immigration status in the last year or two," Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., said of Republicans. "Some of the wiser members of the (GOP) are beginning to realize that that will hurt them electorally broadly."
The Violence Against Women Act — first passed in 1994 and now up for a reauthorization this year — allows illegal immigrants who are victims of domestic violence at the hands of legal permanent residents or U.S. citizens to apply for an emergency visa if they assist in prosecutions against their abusers.
The Senate version of the bill passed in April and increased the number of those emergency visas, known as U visas, from 10,000 to 15,000. The bill passed with 16 Republicans voting for it.
The House version of the bill does not include the added visas, and Republicans worried about potential fraud in the process and the ability of visa recipients to bring relatives into the country have added more requirements for illegal immigrants seeking the visa.
For example, the House version allows immigration officials to interview the accused abuser, instead of solely relying on statements from law enforcement and the victim. Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., said that would automatically "tip off" the abuser, who could then proceed to continue harming the victim.
"Currently, there are no safeguards in place to prevent fraud or to prevent an immigrant from fabricating tales of spousal abuse," said Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, during a hearing last week. "Increasing the cap will simply lead to further expansion of a program that is running out of control."
Republicans and Democrats debating the bill on the House floor Wednesday both accused the other side of politicizing what has long been a bipartisan proposal.
Rep. Jared Polis, D-Colo. called it "horrifying to see the political posturing" of House Republicans who didn't follow the Senate's lead and include protections for Native American women and the lesbian, gay and transgender community.
Rep. Sandy Adams, R-Fla., who has suffered from domestic abuse and sponsored the bill, said the House bill doubles funds to process rape kits and cuts down on fraud, and told opponents "we cannot allow domestic violence in this country to become a campaign issue."
President Obama weighed in before the House even voted, threatening a veto if the House version of the bill reached his desk.
The House bill adds new requirements to illegal immigrants who claim to be victims of domestic violence. In an election season that has seen Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush call on the GOP to soften its tone against immigrants, GOP strategist Lionel Sosa worries that the Republican-authored House bill will lead to attack ads and further damage their standing among Hispanic voters.
"It certainly could become a wedge issue, and something that could be used against (Republican nominee Mitt) Romney," said Sosa, who served as a Hispanic media consultant to Republican presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush and advised the failed presidential campaigns of John McCain and Newt Gingrich.
Sosa cautioned that voters are able to make the distinction between actions taken by members of the party and those of Romney himself. But Democrats view the House version of the Violence Against Women Act as the latest example of a party that continues to doom itself with Hispanic voters.
"There's been some truly alarming, unacceptable rhetoric about immigrants and immigration status in the last year or two," Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., said of Republicans. "Some of the wiser members of the (GOP) are beginning to realize that that will hurt them electorally broadly."
The Violence Against Women Act — first passed in 1994 and now up for a reauthorization this year — allows illegal immigrants who are victims of domestic violence at the hands of legal permanent residents or U.S. citizens to apply for an emergency visa if they assist in prosecutions against their abusers.
The Senate version of the bill passed in April and increased the number of those emergency visas, known as U visas, from 10,000 to 15,000. The bill passed with 16 Republicans voting for it.
The House version of the bill does not include the added visas, and Republicans worried about potential fraud in the process and the ability of visa recipients to bring relatives into the country have added more requirements for illegal immigrants seeking the visa.
For example, the House version allows immigration officials to interview the accused abuser, instead of solely relying on statements from law enforcement and the victim. Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., said that would automatically "tip off" the abuser, who could then proceed to continue harming the victim.
"Currently, there are no safeguards in place to prevent fraud or to prevent an immigrant from fabricating tales of spousal abuse," said Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, during a hearing last week. "Increasing the cap will simply lead to further expansion of a program that is running out of control."
Republicans and Democrats debating the bill on the House floor Wednesday both accused the other side of politicizing what has long been a bipartisan proposal.
Rep. Jared Polis, D-Colo. called it "horrifying to see the political posturing" of House Republicans who didn't follow the Senate's lead and include protections for Native American women and the lesbian, gay and transgender community.
Rep. Sandy Adams, R-Fla., who has suffered from domestic abuse and sponsored the bill, said the House bill doubles funds to process rape kits and cuts down on fraud, and told opponents "we cannot allow domestic violence in this country to become a campaign issue."
President Obama weighed in before the House even voted, threatening a veto if the House version of the bill reached his desk.
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