Report: Paul Ryan, Mark Meadows Spar Over Immigration

House Speaker Paul Ryan and Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows squared off Wednesday in a tense discussion on the floor over immigration.

"It doesn't matter anymore," Meadows, the North Carolina Republican, told Ryan on the floor in comments that could be heard from the House press gallery, The Hill reports.

Meadows, in his third term, then told Florida GOP Rep. Carlos Curbelo that he would sign a discharge petition backed by Democrats and some Republicans that would lead to votes on four immigration bills.

"I'll sign the dang discharge petition," Meadows said, according to the Hill. "I don't care anymore."

Meadows later said he was not serious about signing the petition, telling reporters instead he was frustrated with the Republican leadership.

The conservative Freedom Caucus has long sparred with President Donald Trump and other GOP leaders.

He said Ryan, who represents Wisconsin, left out two provisions in an immigration compromise bill, Meadows declined to be more specific.

"There were things that were supposed to be in the compromise bill that we had all agreed to," Meadows said, according to the Hill. "I finished reading it today.

"I was told there were two things in there that are not in there."

The House is expected to vote on two immigration bills Thursday, the compromise bill and a harder-line measure.

Republican leaders are working to garner enough votes on the compromise measure, but conservatives strongly oppose the measure.

That bill would bar the federal immigration officials from separating children and families at the U.S. border.

President Trump signed an executive order ending the separations Wednesday, but he called on Congress to pass legislation to do the same.

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