House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers, R-Ky., has argued that Congress can't block funding to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the agency charged with enforcing the president's calls to authorize work permits and other paperwork for illegal immigrants living in the U.S., because it operates mostly on fees it collects rather than federal tax revenue.But a CRS report requested by Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., and obtained by the Washington Examiner Wednesday says Congress can block funding to the agency, even if its budget is dependent on fees.
"Amounts received as fees by federal agencies must still be appropriated by Congress to that agency in order to be available for obligation or expenditure by the agency," CRS said.