Following through on a pledge they made to voters in 2014, Republicans in the House approved a plan on Wednesday that rolls back recent executive actions on immigration by President Obama and removes protections instituted several years ago for immigrants brought illegally to the U.S. as children.
"This executive overreach is an affront to the rule of law," said Speaker John Boehner on the House floor, as GOP lawmakers argued it was time to confront the President.
The vote to undo the President's recent executive actions was 237-190, as 7 Republicans joined all Democrats in voting against the plan.
The House also voted 218-209 to roll back the 2012 "DACA" program, which deferred deportations for people who had been brought to the U.S. illegally when they were children - the so-called "Dreamers."
While no Democrats voted for either of those amendments, some did back another plan that calls on the feds to make it a top priority to deport illegal immigrants if they are convicted of domestic abuse or sex crimes.
The plans were attached to a bill that funds the operations of the Department of Homeland Security, which is responsible for enforcing immigration laws.
Credit: Jamie Dupree
Credit: Jamie Dupree
Democrats and the White House were not impressed with the GOP move, which already faces a veto threat.
It's not clear what is next for this bill; there may not be enough votes to approve it in the Senate, as it could face a filibuster from Democrats.
But there are some in Democratic circles who think it would be better to let the GOP approve this bill - with the immigration restrictions - in order to let the President very publicly reject it with a veto.
Manley is no stranger to Capitol Hill; he previously served as the top spokesman for Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid.
Action is needed soon in the Senate on this funding bill, as the Department of Homeland Security's budget runs out on February 27.
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