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Congressional Democrats are invoking the threats of the Islamic State and other terrorist organizations in an effort to pressure Republicans to fund the Department of Homeland Security without the stipulations the GOP has pushed for weeks.

The strategy, which draws on recent global events, raises questions about how long Republicans can keep up their fight against President Obama before facing a backlash from an American public that is increasingly wary of terrorism. It also reshuffles the usual politics, in which the GOP has tended to be the party more aggressively appealing to worries about national security.

In floor speeches, press conferences and interviews this week, Democrats have cited a graphic video of Islamic State militants executing a Jordanian pilot and the recent mass killing at a Paris newspaper as reasons not to play politics with funding DHS, which was formed in the wake of the Sept.11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

It should have been urgent a few weeks ago after what we saw in France. It should be even more urgent today after what we saw ISIS did to that poor Jordanian pilot, Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) told reporters Thursday. Security is vital, and to play games with it makes no sense.

Speaking on the House floor earlier in the day, Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) sounded similar alarms.

Dont hold hostage the Department of Homeland Security. Dont put Americans at risk, warned Hoyer.

The rhetoric is a central part of the Democratic effort to persuade Republicans to pass a clean DHS spending bill before current funding runs out on Feb.27. Republicans are trying to use the measure to also stop Obamas executive actions on immigration, since DHS is responsible for allocating the money for the initiatives.

The GOP-controlled House passed a $40billion bill last month that would accomplish those goals through the end of the fiscal year. But Senate Democrats, who wield more power than House Democrats, have stopped it cold.

On Thursday, they put up a united front, blocking the Republican effort to open debate on the measure for the third straight day and leaving GOP leaders scrambling to find a way forward.

Asked by reporters if he knows how Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) plans to proceed, House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) shrugged his shoulders and said: No.

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Democrats invoke perils of terrorism in push for clean DHS funding bill