When it comes to comprehensive federal immigration reform and current enforcement priorities, the games continue.
In December, President Barack Obama issued a series of directives on immigration policy that would establish enforcement priorities and shield certain undocumented immigrants from deportation.
Ever since, unhappy Republicans have talked about passing a bill through Congress that would walk back many, if not all, of these changes. The White House has said it will veto any such legislation, so Republicans now are threatening to attach it to a bill that would continue funding for the Department of Homeland Security. Without such a bill, said funding will expire on Feb. 27.
But this approach has its pluses and minuses, including doubtful prospects in the Senate, where Republicans lack a filibuster-proof majority. The Wall Street Journal has the story.
This latest political chess game on immigration follows House Speaker John Boehner’s refusal, during the last session, to allow a vote on the bipartisan “Gang of Eight” immigration reform bill that the U.S. Senate passed in 2013. That bill was crafted by four Republicans and four Democrats.
