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US homeland security nears shutdown after House rejects bill US avoids homeland security shutdown as House passes bill
(about 2 hours later)
US lawmakers have rejected a short-term funding bill for homeland security, increasing the threat of a partial agency shutdown at midnight on Friday. US lawmakers have avoided a partial shutdown of homeland security after passing a one-week funding extension just hours before a midnight deadline.
The House of Representatives voted 224-203 against the measure, with dozens of Republicans defying party leaders. The House of Representatives voted 357-60 in favour of the short-term bill after it had been passed in the Senate.
They rejected the bill after provisions to block parts of President Barack Obama's immigration plan were dropped. It ensures the department's 250,000 employees will be paid while a longer-term funding agreement is discussed.
A partial closure could still be avoided if the House passes a Senate-backed deal before 05:00 GMT. It will now be signed by President Barack Obama, who said he would back a short-term deal to avert a shutdown.
That deal would ensure full funding for the Department of Homeland Security for one week, giving both sides more time to agree on a long-term deal. It was passed on a voice vote in the Senate on Friday evening, but still needs approval from the House. The two-thirds majority vote was reached about two hours before the midnight (05:00 GMT Saturday) deadline.
The Department of Homeland Security, which employs about 250,000 people, is responsible for securing US borders, airports and coastal waters. Earlier, Republicans had rejected a similar three-week extension after provisions against President Obama's immigration plan were dropped.
About 200,000 "essential" department employees will continue to work without pay if the agency does not have funding. The one-week deal was backed by a majority of Democrats despite many of them voting against the earlier bill in the hope that a longer-term deal could be agreed.
The move came shortly after President Obama had spoken by phone to Democratic leaders in a bid to avert the partial department closure.
The Department of Homeland Security is responsible for securing US borders, airports and coastal waters.
About 200,000 "essential" department employees would have continued to work without pay if the agency's funding had not been secured.
Effects of a Homeland Security shutdownEffects of a Homeland Security shutdown
Several Democrats, who want a longer-term spending bill passed without changes to the immigration policy, joined Republican rebels in voting against the measure in the House earlier on Friday. Some Republicans had wanted to use the funding of the department, which includes immigration officials, as a bargaining chip to force President Obama to end policies on immigration.
Some Republicans wanted to use the funding, of the department which includes immigration officials, as a bargaining chip to force President Obama to end policies on immigration. Last November, Mr Obama used his executive powers to protect about five million undocumented immigrants from deportation. Republicans say Mr Obama overstepped his powers in doing so.
Mr Obama used his executive powers to protect about five million undocumented immigrants from deportation. Republicans say Mr Obama overstepped his powers in doing so.
A separate ruling by a federal judge has blocked those policies from starting while a lawsuit by more than two dozen states goes forward.A separate ruling by a federal judge has blocked those policies from starting while a lawsuit by more than two dozen states goes forward.
Correspondents say it is unclear if House Speaker John Boehner will back the Senate bill as it lacks provisions against Mr Obama's immigration policies and would anger many Republicans. Some Republicans senators had expressed a desire to fight the execution actions in the courts, rather than threaten the department's funding.
However, some Republicans senators have expressed a desire to fight the execution actions in the courts, rather than threaten the department's funding. The BBC's Naomi Grimley in Washington says many on Capitol Hill feared a public backlash if the funding had been thrown into doubt at a time of fears about "lone wolf" terrorists.
The BBC's Naomi Grimley in Washington says many on Capitol Hill fear a public backlash if the funding is thrown into doubt at a time of fears about "lone wolf" terrorists. On Thursday, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson urged Congress to pass full funding.
Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson urged Congress on Thursday to pass full funding.
"A short-term continuing resolution exacerbates the uncertainty for my workforce and puts us back in the same position, on the brink of a shutdown just days from now," Mr Johnson said."A short-term continuing resolution exacerbates the uncertainty for my workforce and puts us back in the same position, on the brink of a shutdown just days from now," Mr Johnson said.
The White House has said Mr Obama would prefer a full funding bill but would sign a short-term measure to prevent a shutdown. Last week, the White House said Mr Obama would prefer a full funding bill but would sign a short-term measure to prevent a shutdown.
But House Democrats are opposing the measure and Mr Obama has said he will veto any bill that affects immigration.
Other House Republicans said they would also not support a short-term bill.
"I am not going to vote under any circumstances to fund illegal conduct," said Representative Mo Brooks.
"It does not make any difference whether the funding is for three weeks, three months or a full fiscal year. If it's illegal, it's illegal."