The Senate voted down all four immigration amendments on Thursday, effectively ending the DACA debate, for now, in the chamber. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced after the debate that the Senate would move on to other business.
Three of the four amendments that came to the floor on Thursday included an amnesty for illegal aliens. Amendments required 60 votes for passage.
- Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Chris Coons' (D-Del.) proposal that would have granted amnesty to an estimated 3.2 million illegal aliens failed 52-to-47. Republican Senators Jeff Flake of Arizona, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, and Cory Gardner of Colorado supported the amendment. Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia was the only Democrat to vote against the amendment.
- Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), and Angus King's (I-Maine) proposal that would have granted amnesty to 1.8 million illegal aliens and blocked the removal of 12 million illegal aliens failed 54-to-45. Republican Senators Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, Jeff Flake of Arizona, Cory Gardner of Colorado, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Johnny Isakson of Georgia, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, along with all the GOP sponsors. Democratic Senators Kamala Harris of California, Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, and Tom Udall of New Mexico voted against the amendment due to opposition from pro-amnesty groups.
- Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and John Cornyn's (R-Texas) proposal that mirrored the White House proposal also failed 39-to-60. Democratic Senators Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota joined the 37 Republican Senators who supported the amendment.
The amendment offered by Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) that would have withheld federal funds from sanctuary cities also failed to reach the required 60 votes.
