DeGette Criticizes House Republican Leaders for Playing Politics with Homeland Security and Threatening New American Families

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (CO-01) criticized the House Republican leadership plan to withhold funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) unless it included policy riders attacking the Obama Administration's plan to address our broken immigration system and our current undocumented population.

"The Republican leadership proposal irresponsibly ties funding for our nation's safety and security to a political disagreement with the President," said Rep. DeGette. "If they get their way, hundreds of thousands of young DREAMers who were brought here as young children and have demonstrated their commitment to contributing to our society will be deported. Families will be split apart, children will lose their parents, and our immigration authorities will be forced to divert precious resources away from deporting felons and threats to national security."

The Republican plan defunds the President's Deferred Action for Parental Accountability (DAPA) and dismantles the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) program. Additionally, the plan would prevent efforts to promote border security and public safety by blocking all parts of the President's plan other than the pay raise for Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officers.

"It is highly troubling that leadership thinks this is smart policy or acceptable behavior," said Rep. DeGette. "They are not only playing politics, they are playing with people's lives and the futures of their families. I will continue to stand with my colleagues and protect the millions of families that would be ripped apart by this bill. I look forward to voting on a DHS funding bill that is clean of Republican political games."

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