House Resolution Blasts Vice President Harris Over Border Management, 6 Dems Join
In a significant political move, the U.S. House of Representatives has passed a resolution condemning Vice President Kamala Harris for her performance as the Biden administration's border czar.
The resolution blasting Harris was introduced by Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik and was supported by all House Republicans along with six Democrats, as Breitbart reports, a bipartisan outcome that surely stung the White House all the more.
President Joe Biden assigned Vice President Harris the position of "border czar" in March 2021, and it was intended to address the escalating migration issues at the southern U.S. border.
However, the recent resolution suggests widespread dissatisfaction with Harris's efforts in this role.
The condemnation targets Vice President Harris for what the resolution describes as a failure to secure the U.S. border effectively.
Republican-Led Resolution Draws Democratic Support
Among those who voted in favor of the resolution were 214 House Republicans and six Democrats. The six Democratic lawsmakers who broke ranks to support the resolution include Rep. Yadira Caraveo (D-CO), Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX), Rep. Don Davis (D-NC), Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME), Rep. Mary Sattler Peltola (D-AK), and Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA).
This development comes amidst other significant political maneuvers against Harris, including articles of impeachment introduced by Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) earlier this week, which accuse her of a "willful refusal to uphold immigration laws."
Context Behind Harris’s Role as Border Czar
Since her appointment to the role, Harris has faced enormous challenges with migration policies, particularly regarding the number of migrants crossing into the U.S. Recent figures indicate that since the beginning of 2021, there have been about 11 million migrant crossings.
The administration has also been managing a parole pipeline, which has reportedly admitted nearly 1.2 million migrants since January 2023, funneling hundreds of thousands into American communities each month.
Criticism and Defense of Harris's Border Strategy
In response to the resolution, Rep. Mark Green (R-TN), House Homeland Security Committee Chairman, expressed severe criticism of Harris's approach, labeling her as "an extremist on border security and immigration enforcement." He cites her record in various political roles as evidence of her failed strategies.
Conversely, many Democrats have defended Harris, arguing that the crisis at the border is a complex issue that predates her appointment and requires more than unilateral efforts to resolve.
President Biden had originally praised Harris as "the most qualified person to…lead our efforts" against illegal migration, a sentiment that has faced increasing scrutiny in light of recent developments.
Public and Political Reactions to the Resolution
The passing of this resolution in the House reflects a significant moment of accountability, according to its supporters. It highlights a rare instance of bipartisan agreement on an issue that is typically divided along party lines.
Green's remarks underscore this sentiment: "No rational person could look at the years since, and conclude anything except that she was utterly unqualified, and has completely failed."
This resolution, thus, serves not only as a rebuke of Vice President Harris’s performance but also as a message to the administration regarding the seriousness with which Congress views the ongoing border crisis.
Conclusion: A Broad Call for Action
The resolution condemning Vice President Kamala Harris's handling of border security marks a pivotal point in the ongoing debate over immigration policy in the United States.
It reflects deep-seated concerns among lawmakers about the effectiveness of current strategies and the need for more robust measures to secure the border.
Both supporters and critics of Harris await further developments and responses from the Biden administration in light of this significant legislative action.