The American Immigration Council does not endorse or oppose candidates for elected office. We aim to provide analysis regarding the implications of the election on the U.S. immigration system.
After the House Rules Committee on Monday night sent a bill that continues funding to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for the rest of the year. Five amendments were attached as the House of Representatives began debating the measure on Tuesday. A vote is expected Wednesday. In December, Congress only approved funding for the department until February 27, so it needs to pass another bill to keep DHS from shutting down after that date.
Among the amendments include changes that would prevent funds from being used to implement President Obama’s immigration executive actions and prior ICE prosecutorial discretion and detainer memos, prevent funds from being used to implement the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, and prevent funds from being used to set priorities for immigration enforcement until domestic violence, sexual abuse, child molestation, and child abuse or exploitation are within highest priority, which are already within November priorities that President Obama announced.
If the DHS funding bill passes Congress with the amendments limiting the president’s executive actions, President Obama said he would veto it. “The president’s immigration accountability executive actions strengthen our border security, ensure undocumented immigrants who are parents of U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents pass background checks to obtain temporary relief from removal, and require everyone to play by the same rules,” the Office of Management and Budget said in the official veto threat.
