Judiciary panel rebuffs Bush on INS, FEMA moves

Notwithstanding his loss on the visa issue, Sensenbrenner prevailed Wednesday on some other issues related to homeland security.

Along with Judiciary ranking member John Conyers, D-Mich., Sensenbrenner offered a manager's amendment that included abolishing the Immigration and Naturalization Service. By voice vote, the committee opted to put immigration enforcement activities in the Homeland Security Department--but to keep servicing of immigration applications in the Justice Department.

The administration had wanted the INS moved completely into the Homeland Security Department.

The White House also wanted the Federal Emergency Management Administration moved into the new department--but the Sensenbrenner-Conyers plan transferred only FEMA's Office of National Preparedness.