The House of Representatives has voted to strip funding from the office of Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
This decision follows his impeachment earlier this year and underscores deep divides over immigration policy and governance.
According to Daily Wire, a GOP majority in the House chose to endorse an amendment proposed by Representative Andy Biggs (R-AZ) which was attached to the broader DHS appropriations bill. This amendment targets the funding of the secretary's office directly, withdrawing financial resources essential for its operations.
The vote pattern was notably partisan, with 193 Republicans backing the amendment and nearly every Democrat dissenting. A lone Republican joined the 172 Democrats in opposition, reflecting both party lines and ideological fissures within the GOP.
The legislative outcome left the chamber divided; 72 lawmakers did not cast a vote, emphasizing the amendment's contentious nature. Some observers have seen this move as a direct repercussion following Mayorkas' impeachment in the House for allegedly defying federal immigration laws and issuing false statements, charges he staunchly denies.
While the House has shown a determined front, political analyst and reporter Anthony Adragnastatesthat similar legislative efforts in previous sessions have been nullified during budget reconciliations with the Senate, where differing versions of appropriations bills are harmonized.
Secretary Mayorkas' impeachment by the House in February was a narrowly won battle with a vote tally of 214-213. However, the Senate, where Democrats hold sway, dismissed the charges against him in April, signaling a pivotal disconnect between the two legislative bodies in their evaluation of Mayorkas’ conduct.
The House GOP has not softened its stance despite the Senate's dismissal. Representative Biggs expressed a stern viewpoint following the passing of his amendment. Biggs posted on X:
The House just passed my amendment to defund the office of the DHS Secretary. Alejandro Mayorkas — who was impeached earlier this year — doesn’t deserve a single penny from American taxpayers.
Other amendments with varying fates included one Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) proposed, aimed at reducing Mayorkas' salary to just $1. This particular amendment failed to pass, highlighting that not all punitive measures against Mayorkas found unanimous GOP support.
Another successful amendment, however, underscored ongoing strategy adjustments within the GOP. Greene's amendment to forbid DHS from collaborating with the State Department to establish “Safe Mobility Offices” was voted through. This suggests an ongoing strategy by House Republicans to reshape immigration enforcement priorities through legislative restrictions.
In his defense, Secretary Mayorkas has consistently shown resilience in the face of accusations. In January, he stated that false accusations neither shake his confidence nor distract him from his lifelong commitment to law enforcement and public service.
This tumultuous sequence of events, from the impeachment in February to the recent defunding vote in June, delineates a stark portrayal of the ongoing political strife surrounding U.S. immigration policies and the administration's control therein.
In conclusion, this recent vote by the House not only impacts DHS's operational capability but also vividly reflects the persistent ideological and operational battles being fought over immigration within the United States government. The future interactions between the Senate and House, as well as Secretary Mayorkas's continued position, remain subjects of keen interest and potential contention.
