Republican efforts to block the executive action taken by President Obama on immigration reform have been foiled by Democrats in the Senate, who have accused the Republican Party of scoring political points by playing games with the serious business of national security.
The bill to continue funding the Department of Homeland Security, which was passed by the House of Representatives, came with attachments that would effectively block the executive action taken by the president to prevent millions of undocumented immigrants from deportation; however, Democrats in the Senate unceremoniously rejected the bill, which was seen as a bid to try to force Obama’s hand given that DHS funding runs out at the end of this month. This was despite the president making it clear that he would veto the bill even if it had been passed by the Senate.
Before the vote, Republican Party leaders continued to state their opposition to Obama’s reforms, with House speaker John Boehner urging the Senate to cooperate with the House bill and vote with them.
Most Republicans, even those adamantly against any immigration reform, are not willing to see the DHS shut down over the issue and many admitted that the likelihood was that Congress would now submit a funding bill devoid of the anti-immigration attachments. “Republicans know that the executive action is not going to be adversely impacted,” said Steny Hoyer, the House Democratic whip, adding: “Nobody doubts that this is all about the politics of dealing with their right wing.”