The use of Homeland Security funding as a “political football” regarding the president’s immigration policies was condemned by Rep. Lois Capps in a press release reacting to Wednesday’s House vote. The funding sunsets at the end of February, and a 236-191 vote refunded it but removed the protections granted by President Obama in November intended to keep immigrant families – immigrant parents and U.S.A.-born children, for instance – together.
“Among several partisan actions, amendments were added to the bill to cut both the Deferred Action for Parental Accountability and the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) programs, affecting thousands of DREAMers and their families along the Central Coast,” said Capps. “These actions would lead to the deportation of hard-working students who were brought to the United States as children and know no other country as their home. The bill would also lead to increased deportation of parents of American children, needlessly tearing apart millions of families, while diverting resources away from deporting dangerous felons and threats to national security.”
The legislation goes next to the Senate. After Republicans won both House and Senate majorities in last November’s election, political pundits have speculated that President Obama will use his veto power – which he has used only twice in his five years in office – to keep Congress from overturning his executive orders on immigration.