In a bold move, the House of Representatives voted to condemn Vice President Kamala Harris for her handling of the southern border as Border Czar, marking the first legislative strike against her since she emerged as the Democrats’ presumptive 2024 nominee.
The vote, which saw six Democrats breaking ranks to join the Republicans, passed 220-196, showcasing a bipartisan effort to hold Harris accountable for what many see as a failed approach to a critical issue.
The six Democrats who sided with the GOP were Reps. Jared Golden of Maine, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington, Mary Peltola of Alaska, Henry Cuellar of Texas, Don Davis of North Carolina, and Yadira Caraveo of Colorado. Their decision underscores a significant intra-party dissent, reflecting growing frustration and concern over Harris’s role and performance as “border czar.”
Harris, tasked by President Biden in 2021 to address the “root causes” of illegal immigration, has faced relentless criticism from Republicans who argue that her policies have exacerbated the crisis at the border. The bipartisan rebuke comes as Harris prepares for a potential showdown with former President Trump, making the issue a focal point in the upcoming presidential race.
Leading the charge, House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik of New York did not mince words. “Kamala Harris has overseen failed and dangerous policies as Joe Biden’s border czar, leading to the most catastrophic border crisis in our nation’s history,” Stefanik asserted during the debate. Her sentiments were echoed by House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green of Tennessee, who remarked, “We’ve been told that Vice President Harris’ job was to find the root causes of the crisis. Turns out, she could have just looked in the mirror.”
Democrats, on the other hand, accused Republicans of political maneuvering. Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, the top Democrat on the Homeland Security Committee, dismissed the bill as a “second-rate attempt at election interference.” He argued that the resolution was based on “falsehoods and cherry-picked statistics,” criticizing his Republican colleagues for using House resources for campaign purposes.
Despite these accusations, the Republican leadership remained resolute. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer of Minnesota told Fox News Digital, “The mainstream media can try to rewrite history all they want, but the American people know the truth, and our House Republican majority will remind them. Kamala Harris is Biden’s border czar, and the unprecedented invasion at our borders is hers to own.”
While left-wing lawmakers defended Harris, arguing that her mission was to address the root causes of migration rather than direct border security, the optics of the situation are hard to ignore. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York even accused Republicans of fabricating the “border czar” title in a press conference.
The resolution’s passage, notably the House’s final vote before the August recess, sends a clear message. It underscores the heightened scrutiny Harris faces as she steps into the spotlight of the 2024 presidential race. The bipartisan nature of the vote suggests that concerns about the border crisis transcend party lines, highlighting a significant point of contention as the nation heads towards another election cycle.
The border issue remains a potent and polarizing topic in American politics. The bipartisan vote to condemn Vice President Harris is a stark reminder of the challenges and criticisms she faces. As Congress returns after Labor Day, this resolution sets the stage for what promises to be a heated and contentious political season. The American public will be watching closely to see how Harris and her administration respond to this latest challenge and whether they can address the concerns raised by both sides of the aisle.
