Congress sends Homeland bill to Obama without conditions as Republicans cave again

Congress sends Homeland bill to Obama without conditions

Mar 3, 3:18 PM (ET)

By ERICA WERNER and DAVID ESPO

(AP) In this Feb. 24, 2015 file photo, the Homeland Security Department... Full Image

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress is sending President Barack Obama a bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security through the end of the budget year, without overturning the president's immigration policies.

The House on Tuesday voted 257-167 for the measure that Obama is expected to sign. Without action, funding for the department would have expired Friday at midnight.

The outcome was a victory for Obama and Democrats, and a defeat for the GOP strategy of trying to overturn Obama's executive actions on immigration by linking them to funding for Homeland.

Republicans were unable to overcome united opposition from Senate Democrats to their strategy. They also suffered embarrassing internal divisions that left the country within hours of a partial agency shutdown last week.