House Approves Homeland Security Funding, Lets Obama’s Immigration Actions Stand

The congressional showdown over President Obama’s immigration actions and Department of Homeland Security funding has officially ended.

This afternoon the House voted 257-167 to pass a “clean” yearlong Homeland Security funding bill that contains no conditions related to the president’s immigration actions—allowing them to stand.

Almost 70 percent of Republicans voted no, but Democrats carried the measure to passage. Not a single Democrat voted against the measure.

I hope we all learn the right lessons from this unnecessary showdown. Common ground should be something we seek, not run away from.

— Senator Harry Reid (@SenatorReid) March 3, 2015

The Senate already passed the bill, 68-31, last week, and it will now move on to the president for him to sign.

Speaker John Boehner abruptly brought the “clean” funding bill to the House floor after deciding Congress didn’t have the votes to stop Obama’s immigration actions while holding up funding for Homeland Security.

Last Friday, hours before Homeland Security money was set to expire, the House passed legislation funding the agency for another week.

For conservatives who believe Congress’ “power of the purse” provided the best leverage to stop Obama’s actions, the failure to do so was a letdown.

“I fear this sets precedent and emboldens the president on other topics,” says @CongHuelskamp.

“I am disappointed, but I am not mad because I am not surprised,” said Rep. Tim Huelskamp, R-Kan., an outspoken Boehner critic, in an interview with The Daily Signal.

“Speaker Boehner promised to fight tooth and nail to stop the president’s actions, but those were just promises,” Huelskamp added. “I fear this sets precedent and emboldens the president on other topics. If we won’t stop the president on illegal executive amnesty, when will we ever stand up for the Constitution? We need bold conservative leadership. Conservatives should be outraged.”

Before today’s vote, Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, made a last-minute plea to rally critics of Obama’s actions.

Other Republicans believe that the weeks-long holdup over funding Homeland Security distracted the newly empowered GOP from pursuing other ambitions that are more attainable.

Voting to defund the Department of Homeland Security because you are really mad at the President and the Senate doesn't make sense.

— John Feehery (@JohnFeehery) March 3, 2015

“We waste time by setting up these artificial cliffs that are so unnecessary and that frankly will not reflect well on Republicans,” Rep. Charlie Dent, R-Pa., told The Daily Signal. “It is undermining our pledge to govern. We have issues that we need to deal with. From the budget, to transportation funding, to tax reform, to trade—that all require time.”

While lawmakers could not stop Obama’s actions—which defer deportation for up to 5 million illegal immigrants and grant them work permits—the fight over their legality continues in court.

A federal judge last month halted, at least temporarily, Obama’s executive actions on immigration.

U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen’s ruling, in response to a lawsuit from 26 states, prevents the Obama administration from implementing the new rules until the court case is resolved.

Dent argues the court fight should be enough.

“The court in Texas threw House Republicans a lifeline,” Dent said. “That was great news. I don’t know if we are going to win at the end of this process, but so far we are winning.”