Conservatives call on Pelosi to cancel August recess

A group of House conservatives led by Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) is calling on Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to cancel August recess so that lawmakers can debate a bill to fund Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. 

In a letter — signed by 34 GOP members including Roy — sent to Pelosi on Thursday, the lawmakers argue the lower chamber should not break without addressing funding for the agency and the humanitarian crisis at the border.

“We are united in our belief that the House of Representatives should not adjourn for August recess before providing adequate funding to our men and women of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on the frontlines dealing with the ongoing humanitarian crisis on our southern border,” they wrote. 

“Additionally, we must address the largest barriers to regaining operational control of the border," the letter added, citing family detention, "the unintended consequences of the 2008 trafficking law that impedes our ability to expeditiously process unaccompanied children," and "loopholes in our asylum laws” as some of the examples.

The GOP members went on to blast Democrats for not moving the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) appropriations bill through regular order, arguing a debate on funding levels for ICE should have already taken place.