On Wednesday, the GOP-led House voted on a controversial move to defund Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
The decision follows his impeachment earlier this year, highlighting ongoing partisan tensions over immigration and DHS management.
According to Daily Wire, Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) sponsored the amendment to defund Mayorkas, which passed with the support of 193 Republican lawmakers. The amendment is part of a larger appropriations bill aimed at funding the Department of Homeland Security for the next fiscal year. However, 172 Democrats and one Republican opposed the amendment, while 72 members did not vote.
Mayorkas, a key Biden administration official, was impeached by the House in mid-February by a narrow 214-213 vote. The impeachment resolution accused him of failing to comply with federal immigration laws and making false statements. Notably, three Republican lawmakers broke ranks to join Democrats in opposing the resolution.
In addition to the defunding amendment, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) proposed an amendment to reduce Mayorkas’ salary to $1, which did not pass. However, another of Greene’s amendments, which aimed to block the DHS from partnering with the State Department for “Safe Mobility Offices,” was approved.
The Senate, controlled by Democrats, voted to quash the impeachment articles in April, just after members were sworn in as jurors and debated the trial's proceedings. During this process, the impeachment managers were not allowed to present their case. This Senate action effectively halted the impeachment effort against Mayorkas.
Reporter Anthony Adragna from POLITICO noted that similar defunding efforts have been adopted in the past but were often removed during House and Senate negotiations. This suggests that the current amendment to defund Mayorkas might face significant challenges ahead.
Rep. Andy Biggs expressed his satisfaction with the House vote, emphasizing that Mayorkas, who was impeached earlier this year, should not receive taxpayer money.
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.
Conversely, Democrats and one Republican opposed the measure, reflecting the deep partisan divide over this issue. The vote underscores the contentious nature of immigration policy and the management of the DHS under the Biden administration.
The amendment's passage in the House sets the stage for further debates as the appropriations bill moves forward. Given past trends, it is possible that the defunding provision may be stripped out during negotiations between the House and Senate. This would follow the historical pattern noted by Adragna, where similar efforts were removed.
In January, amidst growing criticism, Mayorkas defended his record, stating that the accusations against him were false and did not affect his commitment to law enforcement and public service. His steadfast response highlights the ongoing clash between the Biden administration and its critics over immigration policy.
The House vote to defund Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas marks a significant moment in the ongoing political battle over immigration policy. The amendment's passage reflects deep partisan divides and raises questions about the future of DHS funding. Despite the House's decision, the ultimate fate of the defunding effort remains uncertain as it moves to the Senate. Previous defunding efforts suggest that this provision may face significant challenges ahead. The broader context of Mayorkas' impeachment and the Senate's actions underscore the complexities and contentious nature of this issue.
