The House of Representatives has voted to condemn Vice President Kamala Harris’ handling of the U.S. southern border, marking a significant escalation in Republican criticism of the Biden administration’s immigration policies. The resolution, passed along bipartisan lines with six Democrats joining all Republicans, is the first piece of legislation targeting Harris since she became the presumptive Democratic nominee for the 2024 presidential election.
Republicans have long accused Harris of failing her role as “border czar,” a position assigned to her by President Biden in 2021. They argue that her focus on addressing the “root causes” of illegal immigration has not effectively mitigated the ongoing border crisis. This attack line is becoming increasingly central to the GOP’s strategy against Harris as she prepares for a potential head-to-head race against former President Trump.
The resolution comes as a stark rebuke to the likely Democratic presidential nominee, particularly considering that dozens of left-wing lawmakers have already endorsed her candidacy. However, six moderate Democrats ultimately voted in favor of the measure, highlighting a potential divide within the party regarding Harris’ performance on border issues.
During the debate on the bill, House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik, leading the effort, accused Harris of overseeing “failed and dangerous policies” that have contributed to the “most catastrophic border crisis in this nation’s history.” Similarly, House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green echoed these sentiments, suggesting that Harris’ focus on the root causes of migration was misplaced.
Democrats, however, dismissed the resolution as politically motivated and a blatant attempt to interfere in the 2024 election. Rep. Bennie Thompson, the top Democrat on the Homeland Security Committee, characterized the bill as a “second-rate attempt at election interference” and potentially an ethics violation. He accused Republicans of using House resources for campaign purposes and relying on falsehoods and cherry-picked statistics to support their claims.
Left-wing lawmakers opposing the resolution also emphasized that Harris’ mission to address the root causes of migration was not intended to be a direct oversight of border security operations. They argued that the title “border czar” was a fabricated label employed by Republicans for political gain.
The resolution marks the House’s last vote before Congress recesses for the month of August, returning after Labor Day. Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House for comment on the matter.
