In a February 25 article for the New York Times Opinion
Pages, the Editorial Board wrote a critique of Republicans’ issues with the
proposed budget for the Department of Homeland Security. The Editorial Board is
comprised of 19 journalists, all specializing in different areas, and represents
the opinion of the New York Times’ editor and publisher.
Speaking to the segment of the American public reached by
the New York Times, the Editorial Board clearly stands with Obama’s opinion. Titled,
“Holding Homeland Security Hostage,” the Board describes the current debate on
immigration. In December 2014, President Obama issued an executive order protecting
certain immigrants’ amnesty as well as allowing them to get driver’s licenses
and work permits provided they met his qualifications—having lived and worked
in the United States for more than five years and having no criminal history. Along
with 20 other states, Texas filed a lawsuit against the President saying that
his actions were unconstitutional, and his order was shut down.
In a seemingly unrelated issue, Senate Republicans are
acting quickly to approve a bill to fund Homeland Security before the end of
this week when its current budget expires. If an agreement is not reached by
the deadline, the only department within Homeland Security that would still
function properly is the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services
office because it receives its funding from applicant fees rather than taxes.
This department is where visas, work permits, and green cards are processed and
issued. And although Senate Republicans seem willing to move forward on the
budget, House Republicans have said they will only pass the current budget plan
for the Department of Homeland Security if it included a way to block President
Obama’s immigration plans. In opposition to the House Republicans, President Obama,
believing that his plan for immigration is the best plan for America’s
immigration problems, says that he will veto any bill that prohibits his plan
from passing.
Like all things, there would be consequences if the budget
to fund Homeland Security were not passed. Most of the 30,000 employees would
be furloughed but still asked to work without pay because they are essential. This
would cause many problems for the employees who rely on that paycheck to
provide for themselves and their families. If the bill is not passed by the end
of this week, the only service from the United States Citizenship and Immigration
Service that would be in jeopardy is E-Verify, the website that allows
employers to check the work eligibility of potential employees.
