DHS fundingParis attacks complicate efforts to freeze DHS funding over Obama’s immigration executive orders
Last week’s terror attacks in Paris have increased concerns of DHS officials that terrorists may be looking to attack U.S. targets. For many members of Congress, the Paris events are proof that DHS operations should continue to be funded, but opponents of the president’s immigration executive order appear ready to freeze funding for DHS altogether unless such funding does not include funds for the implementation of the president’s executive orders. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) warned fellow Republicans to be cautious: “Defunding that part of the bill that deals with enforcing the executive order makes sense but we can’t go too far here because look what happened in Paris. The Department of Homeland Security needs to be up and running,” he said.
Last week’s terror attacks in Paris have increased concerns of DHS officials that terrorists may be looking to attack U.S. targets. For many members of Congress, the Paris events are proof that DHS operations should continue to be funded, but opponents of the president’s executive order to remove the threat of deportation from nearly five million undocumented immigrants appear ready to freeze funding for DHS altogether unless such funding does not include funds for the implementation of the president’s executive orders.
Senate and House Republicans worry that if they end up in a standoff with Obama and congressional Democrats over funding DHS, they could wind up taking the blame if a terror attack occurred. “Defunding that part of the bill that deals with enforcing the executive order makes sense but we can’t go too far here because look what happened in Paris. The Department of Homeland Security needs to be up and running,” said Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina).
The Hill reports that a Senate GOP aide warned that Democrats would blame a DHS shutdown as the reason for DHS not being able to stop a terror attack in the United States. Some Democrats would also label Republicans as prioritizing their conservative campaign promises over national security, the aide said.
“There’s no question that if the DHS shuts down in some way, Democrats will do everything to take full advantage of the situation,” the aide said.
A senior Senate Democratic aide said the Republicans would lose the public relations battle over national security, especially after last week’s Paris attacks. “Republican efforts to play politics with Department of Homeland Security, which is actively engaged against the threat posed by ISIS, is a dangerous and risky move that can backfire,” the aide said, making reference to the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. “The House proposal is an attempt to throw a hunk of red meat to the right at a time when the nation is at risk for attack,” the aide added.
Last Friday, House Republicans met to discuss using the DHS funding bill — which could pass next week to fund the department through the end of the fiscal year — to fight Obama’s immigration policies. Republican leaders in the Senate and House insist that the House proposal strictly target enforcement of Obama’s executive action and not affect other DHS initiatives such as border security and counterterrorism efforts. One amendment would halt the 2012 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, and another would prohibit DHS from using fees to carry Obama’s immigration policies.
Senate Democrats have declared the bill dead on arrival. “It’s a joke. Not only will it not pass the Senate, it won’t put any pressure on Democrats because it’s way too far to the right,” said a senior Democratic aide, in reference to Republican plans to get centrist Senate Democrats to support the House legislation.
