Republicans Praise Federal Judge's Ruling on Obama's Executive Action on Immigration

Strategic Insights -

The ruling from a federal judge Tuesday has united and emboldened Republicans on Capitol Hill, who are now more determined than ever to stand by their strategy of tying funding for the Department of Homeland Security to efforts to kill Obama's executive action on immigration. The ruling, which doesn't immediately settle the political standoff over funding the Department of Homeland Security, has been praised by House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who are urging Senate Democrats to end their partisan filibuster of the funding.

Key Takeaways:

  • The federal judge's ruling has emboldened Republicans on Capitol Hill to stand firmly by their strategy of tying funding for the Department of Homeland Security to efforts to kill Obama's executive action on immigration.
  • House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have praised the ruling, urging Senate Democrats to end their partisan filibuster of the funding.
  • Boehner repeated his claim that Obama took his executive action despite saying "22 times" before that he had no authority to take such action unilaterally.
  • The Obama administration has indicated that it will appeal the decision, stating that Obama's executive actions "are well within his legal authority."
  • A CNN/ORC poll conducted before the rulings revealed that a majority of Americans would blame GOP lawmakers if the Department of Homeland Security shuts down, with 30% saying they would blame Obama.
  • A leading hardliner on the issue, Texas's Sen. Ted Cruz, called the ruling a "major turning point in the fight," urging Senate Democrats to end their filibuster of Department of Homeland Security funding.
  • Democrats, including House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, are showing no signs of giving up on their side of the fight, with Pelosi expressing confidence that an appeal will succeed.

Statistics:

  • 30% of Americans would blame Obama if the Department of Homeland Security shuts down, according to a recent CNN/ORC poll.
  • 22 times was the number of occasions Obama said he had no authority to take unilateral action on immigration reform, according to Boehner.
  • Feb. 27 is the deadline to fund the Department of Homeland Security.
  • The federal judge's ruling doesn't immediately settle the political standoff over funding the Department of Homeland Security.

Sources:

  • CNN, "Republicans praise federal judge's ruling on Obama's executive action on immigration"
  • CNN/ORC poll, published Tuesday
  • Boehner, "Statement on the federal judge's ruling" (no date)
  • McConnell, "Statement on the federal judge's ruling" (no date)
  • Pelosi, "Statement on the federal judge's ruling" (no date)
  • Cruz, "Statement on the federal judge's ruling" (no date)