WASHINGTON, DC—Congressman Jim Himes (CT-4) today voted against House Republican legislation that would link Homeland Security Department funding with an effort to undermine President Obama’s executive actions to overhaul America’s broken immigration system. The Republican bill would defund the President’s immigration policies, including the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. This initiative temporarily halts deportations of young Americans known as “Dreamers," immigrant students who were brought to America as children by their parents and who grew up in the United States.
“I strongly oppose this blatant partisan attempt by House Republicans to deport hundreds of thousands of Dreamers who were brought to America through no fault of their own. The Homeland Security Department's budget is critical to our nation's security - it shouldn't be used as a tool to advance an extreme, ideological agenda. The President’s immigration policies will help strengthen our borders, improve our economy and prevent families from being torn apart. We wouldn't be in this situation if the House Republican majority allowed a vote on the comprehensive immigration reform bill the Senate passed with overwhelming support a year and a half ago.”