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| The Republican-led House is looking to revoke much of Obama's executive order on immigration. Image: Shutterstock |
The House voted today to undo major provisions of President
Obama’s recent immigration policy, which granted legal protection to
millions of undocumented immigrants.
While much of the more contentious parts of the bill are likely to get
shot down in the Senate, this latest round of voting has lawmakers at each others’
throats about how best to deal with funding for the Department of Homeland
Security and other immigration-related issues.
However, the division is not entirely along party
lines. In the House, 26 Republicans
voted against an amendment that would end Obama’s 2012 order that allowed
immigrants who enter the US illegally as children to stay in the country. Ultimately the amendment passed 218 to 209.
The larger funding bill for Homeland Security passed 236 to
191, with Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell expected to meet with members
over the next few days to discuss how to move forward, including potentially
amending it and sending it back to the House.
The bill would provide Homeland Security with $39.7 billion to finance
the rest of the year’s budget, something both parties feel is needed to provide
counterterrorism and cybersecurity, particularly in the wake of the Paris
terror attacks.
Republicans in favor of the legislation said it was not
anti-immigrant, but a reaction to Obama’s executive order, which they feel
overstepped his authority. “By their
votes last November, the people made clear they want more accountability from
this president,” said
Speaker John A. Boehner before the House vote. “Enough is enough.”
Democrats argued that the legislation was dangerous in terms
of risking Homeland Security’s ability to function. “This is not a game and it is time for Republicans to take their
responsibility to govern seriously instead of playing to the most extreme
voices in their party,” said
Senator Harry Reid of Nevada.
The issue is not likely to be resolved for several more
weeks.
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