Current House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Republican congressman for California's 23rd Congressional District, announced his bid to succeed Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, as Speaker of the House of Representatives.

With Boehner resigning, calls have reemerged to vote on comprehensive immigration reform, but what has been McCarthy’s immigration record?

First, in an email to colleagues, McCarthy, representing a congressional district where 35 percent of the population is Latino, announced his bid for the speakership.

"We have made real progress towards shrinking an overgrown federal government and reforming our broken entitlement system," McCarthy wrote. "But our work is far from done. We can't ignore the differences that exist, but we can and must heal the divisions in our conference with work, time, and trust. That is why I have decided to run for Speaker of the House and graciously ask for your support."

McCarthy, who previously served as Majority Whip before becoming Majority Leader in August 2014 -- following Eric Cantor's primary election loss, has been working in Congress since the 110th session in 2007. Since becoming congressman, only three of his sponsored legislations have become law, and none of the bills pertain directly to polices affecting Latinos.

In regards to his three bills, which he is the primary sponsor, two legislations (H.R. 1384 and H.R. 667) relate to the naming of facilities and the third bill (H.J. Res. 129) appointed the day to convene the first session of the 114th Congress.

Through co-sponsored legislation, 56 bills have become law.

His stance on immigration may inspire hope of reform, but not through a comprehensive approach. In November 2013 during an interview with CBS's "Face the Nation," McCarthy responded if immigration reform was dead -- since 2013 saw the Senate pass the bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform S. 744.

"No, immigration reform is going to happen," said McCarthy, adding he prefers the "step-by-step method."

McCarthy has called the current immigration system "broken" and "needs to be fixed," citing, "[42 percent] of everyone that's here illegally came here legally. We need to fix this system."

His statement, then, was firm on during an interview on Sept. 28 on Fox News. McCarthy said securing the U.S. border is the first priority, but the visa program also requires fixing.

"One of the greatest strengths we have, as America, is the rule of law," said McCarthy. "If you break the rule of law, you break down society. So why don't we secure our borders first, change the fundamentals of immigration, you know, half of everyone that's here illegally came here legally on a visa, so why wouldn't we solve the visa program?"

McCarthy also opposes President Barack Obama's executive actions that launched the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Deferred Action for Parental Accountability (DAPA), which would provide approximately 4.9 million eligible undocumented immigrants temporary, but renewable, three-year stay in the U.S.

Based on the progress of the 113th Congress, the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA) gave McCarthy a failing score of 0, for not voting in line with the NHLA's positions.

Although he has opposes a "pathway to citizenship" for immigrants, he had co-sponsored Rep. Jeff Denham's, R-Calif., Encourage New Legalized Immigrants to Start Training (ENLIST) Act (H.R. 2377) of 2013, which would require the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to adjust the status of unlawfully present immigrants in the U.S. to permanent residency under the provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The legal permanent residency status, however, will be lifted once the immigrant leaves the armed forces.

H.R. 2377 received bipartisan support including Latino Democrats Rep. Joaquin Castro of Texas, Rep. Luis Gutierrez of Illinois. For the 114th Congress, the bill was reintroduced but has not received the same support as the 2013 bill.

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For the latest updates, follow Latin Post's Politics Editor Michael Oleaga on Twitter: @EditorMikeO or contact via email: m.oleaga@latinpost.com.

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