Two weeks into new session, House Republicans declare themselves anti-immigrant in vote to end DACA.

Undocumented immigrants’ lack of status makes them more vulnerable to exploitation by employers and victimization by criminals with options for legal recourse. Their status makes them mistrust police and emergency services for fear of deportation, and nearly impossible for undocumented people to seek higher education and jobs. That’s why it’s particularly despicable that the Republicans in the House would use a funding bill for national security as an opportunity to attack protections for immigrants so they could score a political cheap shot at President Obama.

What happened?

The Republican-controlled House attached five different amendments to a funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security that—if signed into law—would not only kill the DACA and DAPA programs, but also roll back other enforcement reforms that keep immigrants with no criminal record from being priorities for deportation. Republicans in the House had the option to pass a clean funding bill for DHS to pay for our national security without attacking immigrants in the process—they chose to go out of their way to attack immigrants. That is despicable.

What does that mean?

Let’s be clear, this bill will not be signed into law. In order for it to become law, it needs to get at least 51 votes in the Senate (which it likely will not) and signed into law by the President (which it almost definitely will not). Administrative relief is one the centerpieces of President Obama’s second term. Signing this bill would not only undo administrative relief, but several other protections extended to undocumented immigrants during his presidency. Furthermore, it’s not guaranteed that the bill will clear the Senate to even reach his desk in the first place.

In short, what happened today was a case of political showmanship, designed to protest the President’s policies, with little to no chance of affecting immigration policy—much like how the House voted more than 45 times last session to repeal Obamacare, it’s a public way to say they disapprove, but the President would not sign it into law.

So what happens next?

The funding bill will pass to the Senate (which is now also controlled by Republicans), who will have a chance to debate, amend and vote on the law. That gives us the opportunity to send a clear message to our Senators—and Congress at large—that the American people support immigrants, support administrative relief, and do not approve of Congress playing political games with the rights of immigrants or national security!

What can I do?

Fill out the forms below to be connected to a key Senator. After hitting “Connect Me” you will receive a phone call and hear a recording with suggested talking points. Once the recording ends, you will automatically be connected to a key Senator’s office.