If congressional Republicans were hoping that a Texas judge's injunction on President Obama's immigration actions was going to change Democrats' tune when it comes to the House-passed DHS funding bill, they shouldn't hold their breath.
"Nothing changes," a Senate Democratic Leadership aide told NBC News.
At issue are the three failed attempts by Senate Republicans to bring up the House-passed legislation that not only funds DHS until the end of the fiscal year, but also curtails Obama's executive actions related to immigration.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has scheduled yet another vote on the motion for next Monday, when Congress gets back from their Presidents Day recess. The motion is set to fail again because Democrats are expected to unanimously oppose the measure, a move called a filibuster.
"This procedural ruling, in our opinion, is very unlikely to be upheld," Sen Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said in a statement. "But regardless of the outcome Democrats remain united in our belief that funding for the Department of Homeland Security should not be used as a ransom by Republicans, period."
Even moderate Democrats, whom Republicans have been targeting as possible 'Yes' votes on the motion to move forward with the House-passed bill, are saying the court ruling doesn't change anything. An aide for Sen Joe Manchin (D-WV) told NBC News that Manchin still believes funding for the DHS should be separate than the riders attached by the House.
House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) has repeatedly said it's up to Senate Democrats to allow for consideration of the House-passed bill in the Senate, or they will be responsible for the DHS shutting down at the end of the month. McConnell has said the House-passed bill is "stuck" in the Senate, and told reporters last week it's time for the House to pass another bill that can achieve the 60 votes needed to move forward in the Senate.
Funding for DHS is set to expire at midnight on February 27th if Congress fails to act.