Nativism in the House:

A Report on the House Immigration Reform Caucus 

By the Building Democracy Initiative, Center for New Community

View the entire report in a printable pdf format by clicking here.

In the ebb and flow of nativist politics, the House Immigration Reform Caucus has been one of the most powerful and significant forces on Capitol Hill. With 110 congressmen and women as of this report, its members constitute fully one quarter of the House of Representatives. Members have introduced some of the most punitive legislation proposed during the last two House sessions. Their past chairman, Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-Colo.), is now running for president and participating in national debates. Their current chairman, Rep. Brian Bilbray (R-Calif.), is a former lobbyist for the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR). Some of its members have helped legitimize vigilante organizations such as the Minutemen. While voters tend to view their representatives as individuals or by party affiliation, the members of the House Caucus have acted as a bloc. Collectively, they have stood athwart the legislative process, preventing the emergence of meaningful and humane policy choices. And they have gone all the while virtually unnoticed.

In this report, the Center for New Community's Building Democracy Initiative examines the House Immigration Reform Caucus. We have created a map showing the congressional districts they represent. Using data collected by other organizations that have evaluated voting patterns, we have compiled a multi-issue "report card" on the Caucus members. With information compiled by the Federal Election Commission, we have exposed both individuals and PACs that have contributed to their campaign coffers. This report also begins an examination of the relationship between the HIRC and the larger anti-immigrant movement.

Copyright © 2007 Center for New Community. All rights reserved. No part of this report may be reproduced without the permission of the Center for New Community except for sections quoted with proper attribution for purposes of review and public education.