The Senate, via last year’s bipartisan supermajority vote in favor of comprehensive immigration reform with a path to citizenship, has already spoken about its policy preferences for immigrants and DREAMers. But apparently that’s not enough for Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL), who today is trying to pull a Steve King by pushing the Senate toward a vote against DACA. Just what the Republican Party needs right now — another vote to deport DREAMers. Sahil Kapur at Talking Points Memo has more:
The Senate is poised to vote on a Republican-led measure Thursday to prohibit President Barack Obama from unilaterally granting deportation relief to any undocumented immigrant.
The “motion to table” will be pushed by outspoken immigration hawk Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) prior to the vote on a House-passed bill to keep the government funded through Dec. 11 and let Obama arm Syrian rebels to fight the Islamic militant group ISIS.
Sessions’ office says he’ll bring up the House-approved measure to sunset DACA (Obama’s “deferred action” program for qualified young people) and prohibit further executive actions Obama has promised to take after the midterm elections, which is expected to grant temporary deportation relief and work permits for low-priority migrants.
“This is the time. It’s either stopped now, or it may never be stopped,” Sessions said, calling the idea “executive amnesty.” “And we need to vote on it, and people need to be held accountable. And every American needs to know where their senator stands on the president’s unlawful assumption of power.”
The Democratic-led Senate is expected to reject Sessions’ effort.
Afterward, it is scheduled to vote on the continuing resolution and Syria authorization, both wrapped into one bill. Senior Senate aides believe it will easily pass and go to Obama’s desk for his signature.
