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THE US HOUSE has defied President Barack Obama by adopting Republican measures blocking his controversial immigration reform efforts, though the bill is unlikely to survive in its current form.
Lawmakers voted 236 to 191 to fund the Department of Homeland Security through September 30, the end of fiscal year 2015.
But the bill included several amendments torpedoing the plan Obama unveiled last November, which authorised the administration to provide work permits for millions of undocumented workers.
This proposed legislation had offered hope to some of the 50,000 undocumented Irish citizens living in the US. Though it would not help all of them, the reforms would mean protection for those who have had children in the country since they emigrated there.
One amendment would also freeze the program Obama launched in 2012 that currently shields some 600,000 undocumented minors from deportation.
Another would prohibit authorities from prioritizing deportation of criminals over that of other illegal immigrants who have not committed serious crimes.
“We do not take this action lightly, but simply there is no alternative,” House Speaker John Boehner said.
“This executive overreach is an affront to the rule of law and to the constitution itself.”
Some 11.3 million people were living illegally in the United States as of March 2013, the Pew Research Center estimated.
The last comprehensive immigration reform by US lawmakers dates back to 1986.
Since then, all attempts at major revisions have failed, most recently in 2013 amid conservative opposition.
Democratic lawmakers, labor unions and rights groups have complained bitterly about the obstruction, but they let loose Wednesday over what they believe are misguided Republican policies to speed up deportations and throw a wrench into Obama’s reform efforts.
The White House dismissed today’s vote as “political theatre” and promised a presidential veto of the amended legislation, which has virtually no chance of passing the Senate where Democrats have a blocking minority.
“At the end of the day we are confident that we are going to be implementing these executive actions,” White House domestic policy director Cecilia Munoz told reporters.
Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid said the bill “will not pass” the Senate.
“Republicans have only been in control for a week and already they are picking an unnecessary political fight that risks shutting down the Department of Homeland Security and endangering our security,” Reid said.
“Republicans should stop playing games and pass a clean bill to fund (DHS).”
The scenario sets up a showdown between newly empowered congressional Republicans and Obama over the prospects of a shutdown at the agency charged with maintaining national security.
Congress has until February 27 to formalize funding for DHS, which oversees border security, immigration and customs, and the Secret Service tasked with protecting the president.
Democrats used the example of last week’s deadly Paris attacks to denounce the Republican tactics.
“Homeland security is the last thing in this body that should be subject to a political compromise. Not after the attacks on France, not after 9/11 when we pledged to keep the American people safe,” Democrat Steve Israel told the House.
- © AFP 2015 with reporting by Michelle Hennessy.
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I love the way the Irish are undocumented and everyone else is illegal.
Yes you are correct, but its only the Irish government acting like Hypocrits by not condemning the Irish illegal lawbreakers over in the US.
Enda thinks the Irish are above the law, and hes happy to lobby the US on their behalf to undermine their own borders.
Lame duck time, these very same senators will be the guys promising to give all denominations a better deal in the coming election. Republicans now rule the senate
Now get home here at once all ye undocumented devils…
what is the ‘undocumented irish’ opinion on ‘illegal immigrants’ in Ireland
God bless America
The land of the free and the hypocrites
There is a serious illegal immigration problem in the U.S. I suggest they seal their borders before enforcing any reform for those already there. The Mexican border is a lawless joke.
Gary, are the borders in the country you live in open?
I myself am a legal immigrant to America and I do realize that there’s a problem with illegal immigration. I’m not being a hypocrite. I’m just looking at the reality of the situation and I suggest you do so to.
Declan
Are you a citizen?
If not would you go for citizenship?
If not why?
Honest questions no acting the Jack lad !!
Glen, I came over on a green card. I got my American citizenship in 1996.
The Dumbest US President of all time.
Was not his decision.
He wasn’t the dumbest off all time but he said one thing and did another all the time.
he is just another teleprompter, next one will be the same
Whoever torpedos this bill will not be popular. Obama knew well this bill wouldn’t pass. Elections are coming.
Louis, what elections?
The midterm elections are passed and the presidential one is not till November 2016.
So what ones are you making up?
Thats why he was trying to push it through by executive Fiat. He needed those 10 million mexicans and others to vote for him.
Or Hilldawg,.
Plantation
“Vote for him”
He is on his second and final term
True Glen, however i would imagine that they want them for future elections. It is strategic thinking on the part of the democrats, they couldn’t give a toss about immigrants otherwise.
They’re already starting to gear up for 2016, Declan. This is the preliminary skirmishing. Looks as though Mitt Romney might run for nomination again.
Vote for the Democrats, I presume, Glen.
I think all the so called undocumented Irish in America are illegal immigrants and should be deported ASAP
Deported to where? Back to Ireland? So we’d have at least another 50,000 people draining an already struggling economy, back on the welfare with no job prospects and nowhere to live as they can’t afford to pay the crazy rents. Wonderful idea!
The vast majority of the undocumented irish in the USA are working hard,paying tax and contributing to the society they live in.the solution obviously isn’t to deport everyone. The man power and cost would be colossal. We’re taking about 11 million people here. Twice the population of Ireland. whole communities would start to distrust the police and other forms of authority at a time when USA relies on information from as many sources as possible to stop any acts of mass terror against them as occurred in Paris.
Black and White solutions are always ridiculous. People still laugh at mitt romneys answer to the immigration question that was put to him in the run up to the 2012 elections.when asked what his plan is he said “They should self-deport!”
Maybe they are all working but they are taking American jobs Now that’s not right…How would you like 50 thousand Illegal yanks to come here and take Irish jobs.
To Cornflaker There is 50000 illegal Irish immigrants in the USA not 11 million.
@ Frances Faller…. Spurious comparison to say the least… Give us those numbers as a percentage. That might be a worthwhile question.
Good woman Petra.I was going to change it as I wrote the post in case it wasn’t perfectly clear but I decided to give the readers the benefit of the doubt and i stupidly presumed people would work out I was referring to all undocumented at that point, regardless of their nationality. Obviously I gave some people too much credit. A gold star to you for effort.
And Frances, I worked it out anyway as Louis requested. It’d be the equivalent of 728 undocumented hiding in the shadows the dirty beggars. Red Alert! Close all the ports! We’re being invaded. They speak our language, work hard, want to be part of our way of life and contribute positively without scabbing off the govt. the nerve of these animals.
Wait a minute so they put a bill to the Senate and they don’t pass it but Obama is passing it anyway? Whats the point of the Senate then is it all for show?
@shane
The Republicans don’t have enough seats in the Senate to override the presidential veto.
I read a Cracked article about illegal immigrants working in agriculture in the states, loads of very young children end up working as field workers hand picking crops which is back breaking work for a grown man let alone a child, lots of them end up with serious injuries which because of their status and poverty are rarely properly treated, they are also exposed to dangerious chemicals and crops like tobacco. Farmers do it because they can pay them less then an American and have to payout less on safety and if caught ,which is unlikely, know the penalities for doing so is very mild. Its a simular story in other industries and in many homes.
Unless their is a major crack down on those who employ and often exploit illegal immigrants the problem is just going to continue.
As soosoon as they get amnesty, they leave for the cities, to be replaced by new illegals.
George Bush junior was definitely the dumbest !
Ac act of betrayal to the immigrants including Irish people who would have benefited from this bill, but we cant blame Obama he tried his best.
Waterford whispers nail on head again http://waterfordwhispersnews.com/2015/01/14/yes-we-didnt-confirms-obama/
Most Americans don’t want an amnesty, which is what Obama was proposing.
What’s a USE House?
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