GOP vs. Obama: Immigration Showdown Could Mean Homeland Security Shutdown

The Congress isn’t red enough to defeat President Barack Obama just yet. But obstinacy on both sides threatens to force a partial government shutdown.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) talks to reporters after the weekly Republican Senate policy luncheon at the U.S. Capitol February 3, 2015 in Washington, DC. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

While Senate Republicans don’t have enough power to defeat President Barack Obama, obstinacy on both sides threatens to force a partial government shutdown.

The Tuesday threat of a filibuster by Democrats stopped a bill in the Senate that would defund Obama’s executive order to shield some 5 million illegal immigrants from deportation.

Republican Congressmen believe Obama overstepped his powers. They are protecting the Constitution by stopping his order, they said.

But the GOP effort already drowning in the Senate, together with Obama’s promise to veto it anyway, demonstrated the Republicans, despite having the majority, grapple for power to oppose the president.

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• GOP Split on Immigration Deepens