Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson vowed that President Obama will not defund his executive action on immigration and criticized Republicans for using DHS funding as a “political football,” a concern that he said House Homeland Security Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) shares with him on Wednesday’s “Situation Room” on CNN.
“The president has made it very clear he will not sign a bill that defunds our executive actions to fix our broken immigration system. So, we should not, at this point, be playing political football with the budget of the homeland security capability of this nation. And so what i’ve been urging today, all this week to members of congress, is there are things that need to be funded in the homeland security department. new starts, new funding for border security, counterterrorism, the secret service cannot wait much longer. i cannot continue to operate on a continuing resolution. for the homeland security of this nation, we need an appropriations bill and we need it soon” he stated.
Johnson added that House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul “shares with me, the concern that the budget of the Department of Homeland Security should not be a political football,” and expressed confidence that a deal would be worked out.
Follow Ian Hanchett on Twitter @IanHanchett
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.