The Republican Party flat-out just don't know how to play the game.
It's very easy. The Republican party wants to cut loose of the constitutional law and order type conservatives. Those types tend to demand things from time to time like laws being enforced. Hence the catch the illegal immigrant followed by a denial.
The other part is gun control. Which may or may not become a plank of the Republican party. Just like democrats it's whatever they think they can get away with.
George Washington had all political parties pegged.