For all the uncertainty surrounding House Speaker John Boehner's (R-Ohio) re-election last week, one thing the Republican-controlled Congress can agree on is dismantling President Obama's immigration policy.
Republicans favor comprehensive immigration reform but oppose what they believe are the President's egregiously unconstitutional methods. Among GOP lawmakers' prerogatives this week is to repeal the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, an order granting young undocumented immigrants exemption from deportation.
Though unlikely to pass the Senate - Obama will veto legislation - the bill signifies a more concentrated effort to undermine the President's efforts.
In November, Obama issued an executive order temporarily blocking deportation for millions of undocumented individuals living in the United States. The plan conservatives passed Friday not only funds the Department of Homeland Security, it revives Secure Communities; a 2008 program that checks an arrested individual's fingerprints against Homeland Security databases. The program faced staunch opposition from immigration advocates and was canceled by the president.
The House expects to vote on the bill either Tuesday or Wednesday ahead of their annual retreat in Hershey, Penn. Let's take a looks at what may sway the decision one way or the other.
1. The DHS runs out of money Feb. 27
Nearly $40 billion of the GOP's plan will be funneled into homeland security, a $400 million increase from last year, and would keep the DHS funded through September. Attached is an amendment preventing any money from being used on existing or future executive decisions on immigration.
"The essential (provision) is the Mulvaney amendment in essence denying the use of any funds either through fees or appropriates monies to carry out the President's illegal unlawful amnesty program," House Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers (R-KY) said following Friday's closed-door meeting.
2. Where the GOP will find 60 Senate votes
Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) hold control over both congressional houses but may alienate their conservative base if the President's policies are successfully enacted.
Republicans already lack support in building the Keystone XL oil pipeline and rolling back Obamacare. Gaining 60 votes in support of immigration reform is a more arduous task. In essence, they must have a Plan B in place.
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) opined that another government shutdown is a possibility. "It may not be too bad to shut down a small portion of the government, depending on what you're shutting down," he said. In 2013, a 16-day-long shutdown left approximately 800,000 furloughed while another 1.3 million worked without known pay dates.
3. Charlie Hebdo terrorist attack's effect
Last week's terrorist attack on Charlie Hebdo, a satirical Paris-based newspaper, by Islamic fundamentalists activated a terror cell in France that forced law enforcement to erase their social media presence, according to French police. Senate and House Republicans are wary of a standoff with Obama because they would take the blame if a similar attack happened on U.S. soil.
"I hope that we could challenge the executive action of the President in a mature, fashion Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said in speaking with CNN. "I've never been for shutting down Homeland Security." The burden would only fall on Obama if the GOP could get a bill through the Senate.
With the self-imposed Feb. 27 deadline looming, the political risk of withholding funds from the DHS is something Republicans cannot afford. The bigger question is what concessions they are willing to make to avoid another shutdown.
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