Immigration Reform News 2014: Obama Allies Experience Backlash From Republicans

Immigration allies of President Obama are standing firm as they expect a backlash against Republican lawmakers who voted to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) only by the end of February.

The Republicans, who took over both congressional chambers, seek to oppose Obama's contentious executive move to delay the deportation of millions of immigrants illegally staying in the country and to grant them new work permits.

"The idea that a partial shutdown of DHS is going to get Obama to cave on a signature second-term accomplishment is fantasy," Politico.com quoted America's Voice executive director Frank Sharry as saying.

"It's much more likely that the politics will blow up in the face of Republicans, and that they'll be seen by Latinos and immigrants as hostile," he added.

Republicans, on the other hand, say the funding fight over the DHS will allow them to get their message on tougher border security across.

"If Republicans stand united in January or February and use the constitutional check and balance, the power of the purse, to stop President Obama's illegal amnesty, nobody will be happier than I," Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said in a recent article by Politico.

Another Republican legislator, Sen. John Thune, sang a similar tune of using the Congress' power of the purse "to challenge the President," according to Fox News.

He, however, clarified that Republican senators will not shut down the DHS despite disagreements with Obama on immigration.

In theory, funding the DHS late would shut down the agency. However, majority of the agency will still operate as its employees are considered essential or they are paid by money not budgeted by Congress.

Obama's executive actions are seen likely to be undone as Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas), the chairman of the House Rules Committee, has announced that the President's move will be voted on this month. The White House is expected to turn down such measure and Congress will not gather sufficient votes to quash it.

All eyes would then be on the DHS, whose budget will be used up by Feb. 27.

House Homeland Security Committee Chair Michael McCaul (R-Texas)'s bill on border security is expected to be attached with the DHS' funding bill.