After passing a week long, temporary and emergency spending measure last Friday, the House of Representatives has passed legislation funding the Department of Homeland Security until the next budget year 257-167. The legislation includes funding for President Obama's executive amnesty and is on its way to his desk for a signature.
“Let us remember that it was the president himself who said at least 22 times that he did not have the authority to unilaterally grant amnesty to illegal immigrants. Despite our best efforts in the House, we simply were not able to break the logjam of Democrats in the Senate who insisted on funding the president’s illegal actions as a prerequisite to an agreement on DHS appropriations," Rep. Lou Barletta (R-PA), who voted against the measure, said in a statement. “Requiring the funding of executive amnesty places illegal immigrants ahead of the national security concerns of the United States. I cannot understand the argument that providing work permits and federal benefits to those who have broken our laws is more important than funding the defense of our country. We have immigration laws for two basic reasons: to protect American jobs, and to preserve national security. The president’s executive actions violate both of those principles."
Two weeks ago U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen of Texas halted the implementation of executive amnesty, arguing the "case examines complex issues relating to immigration which necessarily involve questions of federalism, separation of powers, and the ability and advisability, if any, of the Judiciary to hear and resolve such a dispute." Last week U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg of the District of Columbia, who was appointed by President Obama, also issued an injunction against the executive action.
This post has been updated.
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