Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson has called on Congress to approve full-year funding for his department, Reuters reported Thursday.

Doina Chiacu writes Johnson made the statement after Republican lawmakers introduced an amendment to a homeland security appropriations bill that would block President Barack Obama’s executive action on immigration.

“In these times, the budget of the Department of Homeland Security cannot become a political volleyball,” Johnson said, according to Reuters.

The House voted on Wednesday to pass a spending bill that contains language to defund the immigration executive order.