Republicans waging war against Obama's immigration plan
January 14, 2015
WASHINGTON -- In Washington, Republicans are waging a battle against President Obama’s immigration plan.
House lawmakers passed a Department of Homeland Security funding bill that blocks the president’s immigration initiatives.
House Republicans, strengthened by a bigger majority, leveled a major attack against President Obama’s immigration plan on Wednesday.
The House voted to fully fund the Department of Homeland Security while blocking the president's recent executive action on immigration.
DHS is the agency responsible for immigration enforcement. Its funding expires at the end of February.
GOP lawmakers inserted amendments in the nearly $40 billion spending bill that roll back the president’s order to shield about five million undocumented immigrants from deportation.
Republicans, including Congressman Richard Hudson, say the president’s executive action is illegal.
“I’m committed to doing whatever it takes to rein in the president illegal activity when it comes to rewriting immigration law, and these amendments will do just that,” said Rep. Richard Hudson, 8th District.
“I’m committed to doing whatever it takes to rein in the president illegal activity when it comes to rewriting immigration law, and these amendments will do just that,” said Rep. Richard Hudson, 8th District.
Another amendment reverses President Obama's 2012 initiative aimed at protecting immigrants brought into the United States illegally as children, so-called “dreamers.”
Meanwhile, House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi accused Republicans of putting homeland security funding at risk at a time of high alert. That’s following the recent deadly terrorists attacks in Paris.
“You think it would've heightened the urgency to pass a homeland security bill. But the Republicans still say no, still say no to passing a clean bill, unless, unless they can be a menace, do menace to immigration," said Rep. Nancy Pelosi.
But Hudson says the legislation is legitimate.
“We have the largest border security force we’ve ever had in our history. We fully fund FEMA. This is a good appropriations bill that funds our priorities,” said Hudson.
The White House says President Obama would veto any legislation that undermines his immigration plan. But the president may not get the chance. The legislation seems unlikely to get enough votes in the Senate to make it to the president’s desk.
“We have the largest border security force we’ve ever had in our history. We fully fund FEMA. This is a good appropriations bill that funds our priorities,” said Hudson.
The White House says President Obama would veto any legislation that undermines his immigration plan. But the president may not get the chance. The legislation seems unlikely to get enough votes in the Senate to make it to the president’s desk.
Issues:Immigration