Mitch McConnell Unveils Plan B Against Obama Immigration Actions

WASHINGTON — The Senate finally appears to have a Plan B — or at least the beginnings of one — to break the standstill on funding the Department of Homeland Security.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) announced Monday that the chamber will vote on a stand-alone bill to block President Barack Obama’s immigration executive actions that could allow as many as 5 million undocumented immigrants to remain in the country and work.

That bill will be separate from funding for DHS, at risk of shutting down after Feb. 27 because of an impasse over whether funding legislation should include measures to block Obama’s immigration actions. If Republicans move next to vote on a DHS funding bill without those riders, a DHS shutdown could be averted. It remains unclear whether conservative lawmakers would be open to such a strategy.

The injunction seemed to strengthen some Republicans’ resolve. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) told reporters, “Democrats should not hold national security hostage” over a policy blocked by the courts. Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) didn’t give a firm answer when asked whether it would be bad to shut down DHS, or whether it would be something of a victory for standing up for the Constitution.

“We don’t need to be funding unlawful activities, that’s for sure,” Sessions told reporters.

The Huffington Post