Rep. Steve King (R-IA), a vehement opponent of immigration reform, on Wednesday said that an executive action to slow or stop the deportation of undocumented immigrants could result in a government shutdown.
The congressman said that if President Obama signs an executive order, “all bets are off” when it comes to a continuing resolution to fund the federal government, according to the Des Moines Register.
“If the president wields his pen and commits that unconstitutional act to legalize millions, I think that becomes something that is nearly political nuclear,” King told the Westside Conservative Club. “I think the public would be mobilized and galvanized and that changes the dynamic of any continuing resolution and how we might deal with that.”
King said that if Obama follows through on the planned executive action, Republicans will tie government funding to a bill strengthening border security and rolling back deferred deportation for young undocumented immigrants.
The congressman added that Republicans may still use the continuing resolution to push conservative priorities even if Obama doesn’t sign an executive order.
King’s warning echoes a comment made by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) to Breitbart on Tuesday. The Senator said that an executive action on immigration could lead the GOP to tie government funding to legislation that counters the executive order.