Republican U.S. Sen.-elect Tom Cotton says the president's anticipated move to protect millions of immigrants living in the country illegally from deportation would be "detrimental" to any chances of bipartisanship cooperation.
The Arkansas congressman said Monday he hoped President Barack Obama wouldn't follow through on his anticipated executive order, saying the midterm election should be seen as a message that voters don't support such action.
Cotton defeated two-term Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor in the Nov. 4 election.
Cotton said he believed Congress can fight the president's move without threatening a government shutdown. He said Congress could prevent any money going toward issuing work permits, Social Security numbers and IDs to the immigrants affected by the order.