DHS Shutdown Threatens Thousands of CBP Employees, Says Obama
A Department of Homeland Security shutdown in the coming weeks could put more than 40,000 CBP and border patrol agents out of work, President Barack Obama said on Feb. 2 in remarks on his fiscal year 2016 budget proposal. DHS has staffed just over 43,000 CBP and border patrol agents in total since Obama signed into law FY14 appropriations (see 14011423). The department’s current appropriations are set to expire on Feb. 28, and CBP will lose funding if DHS appropriations lapse.
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Obama urged Republicans to debate immigration policy separately and allow DHS to continue to operate. “I think we can have a reasonable debate about immigration; I’m confident that what we’re doing is the right thing,” said Obama. “But don’t jeopardize our national security over this disagreement.” Lawmakers appropriate funds for CBP operations through DHS funding bills. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has pledged a vote on the House-passed DHS funding bill that scales back Obama’s executive action on immigration. The Senate is set to vote on a procedural motion on Feb. 3 to advance that bill, HR-240 (here), to a full vote in the chamber.
Many Democrats, however, continue to insist on a “clean” bill (see 1501270060). DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson, speaking alongside a number of Senate Democrats on Feb. 3, rejected the immigration riders in the funding bill. Senate Appropriations ranking member Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., took to the Senate floor on the same day to criticize the House-passed bill, and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., also shot down the Republican attempt to pass that legislation in a Feb. 2 statement. "If my Republican colleagues have some problems with something the President has done on immigration, for example, hit it head on. Don't hide behind Homeland Security," said Reid (here). "We need a safe homeland and I hope my Republican colleagues will join us and get that done as quickly as possible."