Washington just served up a fresh helping of controversy that’s hotter than a jalapeño. In a move that’s sure to stir the pot, the GOP-led House has voted to defund Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. This decision comes as a scathing rebuke of his handling of the border crisis, marking yet another chapter in the ongoing saga of U.S. immigration policy.
On Wednesday, the House passed an amendment sponsored by Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) to strip funding from Mayorkas’ office. A total of 193 Republican lawmakers threw their weight behind this measure, while 172 Democrats and one Republican opposed it. Another 72 members decided to sit this one out, abstaining from casting a vote. Talk about political theater at its finest.
Rep. Biggs didn’t mince words when he took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to celebrate the victory: “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.” Ouch. That’s the kind of zinger that leaves a mark.
Mayorkas, who faced impeachment in mid-February, became the first Cabinet secretary to be impeached since 1876. The House approved the impeachment resolution by a razor-thin margin of 214-213, with three Republicans breaking ranks to join Democrats in opposition. The articles of impeachment accused Mayorkas of “willfully and systemically” refusing to comply with federal immigration laws and of breaching public trust through false statements and obstructing oversight of DHS.
But don’t break out the champagne just yet if you’re in Biggs’ camp. The defunding effort faces long odds; historically, similar measures have been stripped out during House-Senate negotiations over spending legislation. Politico’s Anthony Adragna noted this hurdle, pointing out that previous efforts have been adopted only to be quashed in later stages.
Adding another layer of intrigue, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) pitched in with her own amendments. Her proposal to slash Mayorkas’ salary to $1 didn’t gain traction, but she did succeed in blocking DHS from partnering with the State Department on “Safe Mobility Offices.” Silver linings, anyone?
As if this political drama needed more twists, it’s worth noting that the Democrat-controlled Senate swiftly quashed Mayorkas’ impeachment articles in April. The Senate showdown ended almost as quickly as it began, leaving the impeachment managers without even a moment to plead their case.
Mayorkas has brushed off these accusations, calling them “false” and asserting that they don’t distract him from his mission. “These accusations do not rattle me and do not divert me from the law enforcement and broader public service mission to which I have devoted most of my career,” he proclaimed back in January.
This latest House vote underscores the deep divisions and high stakes surrounding the U.S. border crisis. Republicans continue to hammer Mayorkas for what they see as gross mismanagement, while Democrats defend his efforts amid unprecedented challenges.
With Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and other Republicans vowing to pursue legal action to enforce their subpoenas against Garland, it’s clear that the battle over border security and executive accountability is far from over.
Leave a Comment