Speaker John Boehner says the House will not hold formal, compromise talks on the Senate-passed comprehensive immigration bill, a fresh signal from the Republican leadership that the issue is dead for the year.

Boehner tells Capitol Hill reporters he wants to deal with the issue on a step-by-step approach. He declined to answer a question Wednesday on whether the House will vote in the remaining days of the year.

Rep. Kevin McCarthy, the No. 3 House Republican, told immigration advocates last week that the House won’t vote this year.

The Senate passed a bill in June that would provide a path to citizenship for the 11 million immigrants living in the United States illegally and tighten border security.

(AP)