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US homeland security nears shutdown after House rejects bill | |
(about 4 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. | |
The House of Representatives voted 224-203 against the measure, with dozens of Republicans defying party leaders. | |
They rejected the bill after provisions to block parts of President Barack Obama's immigration plan were dropped. | |
The agency, which employs about 250,000 people, faces partial closure unless a deal is agreed in the coming hours. | |
About 200,000 department employees, including border and airport security agents, will continue to work without pay if the agency does not have funding. | About 200,000 department employees, including border and airport security agents, will continue to work without pay if the agency does not have funding. |
Several Democrats, who want a longer-term spending bill passed without changes to the immigration policy, joined Republican rebels in voting against the measure. | |
Effects of a Homeland Security shutdown | Effects of a Homeland Security shutdown |
Some Republicans wanted to use the homeland security department funding, which includes immigration officials, as a bargaining chip to force President Obama to end policies on immigration. | |
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. |
Meanwhile, the Senate has passed a bill by 68-31 to fully fund the homeland security department through the budget year. | |
Correspondents say it is unclear if House Speaker John Boehner could take up the Senate bill as it lacks provisions against Mr Obama's immigration policies and would anger many Republicans. | |
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 fear a public backlash if the funding is thrown into doubt at a time of fears about "lone wolf" terrorists. | |
Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson urged Congress on Thursday 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. | The White House has 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. | 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. | 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." |