In a divisive move on Capitol Hill, more than a dozen House Republicans crossed party lines to support Democratic efforts in securing funding for President Joe Biden’s sweeping executive amnesty.
The controversial executive order, unveiled this month, promises to provide green cards and a path to American citizenship for over 550,000 illegal immigrant family members of U.S. citizens.
Additionally, it extends work visas to undocumented individuals who have graduated from American universities.
Efforts to block the funding by Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) were thwarted on Wednesday when 14 Republican lawmakers joined ranks with 202 House Democrats, preventing Roy’s amendment to halt Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funds for implementing the amnesty from passing.
Among the Republican defectors were Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL), Rep. David Valadao (R-CA), Rep. Michelle Steel (R-CA), Rep. Carlos Giménez (R-FL), and Rep. Thomas Kean (R-NJ), whose support contributed to the measure’s passage.
Rep. Mark Green (R-TN), chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, condemned the amnesty as a “welcome mat” that could encourage a surge of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border.
On the same day, a similar bipartisan effort saw 13 Republicans aligning with 205 Democrats to block Rep. Glenn Grothman’s (R-WI) amendment aimed at defunding Biden’s controversial parole program.
This program, known as the CHNV initiative, facilitates entry into the U.S. for Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, and Venezuelan migrants by allowing them to arrange their own flights after receiving “humanitarian parole.”
Some of the Republicans who voted to block the amendment are Rep. Young Kim (R-CA), Rep. Maria Salazar (R-FL), Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN), Rep. Anthony D’Esposito (R-NY), Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY), and Rep. Brandon Williams (R-NY), amongst others.
Rep. Green sharply criticized the CHNV program, arguing it circumvents immigration laws and opens the floodgates to more unauthorized entries.
“By operating this obviously unlawful mass-parole program, Biden and [DHS Secretary Alejandro] Mayorkas continue to make a mockery of our laws,” Green stated.
“[T]he simple fact is that Biden and Mayorkas want to import more inadmissible aliens into the United States because they see political benefit in doing so, not to protect those legitimately persecuted in their home countries,” he added.
Responding to criticisms about the timing of Biden’s executive actions, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas defended the administration’s strategy, citing the closure of the border under Title 42 until May 2023.
In an interview on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” Mayorkas justified the administration’s actions, stating, “On day one of the President’s administration, he presented Congress with a legislative proposal to fix our immigration system.”
Mayorkas highlighted the administration’s unsuccessful attempts to secure supplemental funding from Congress, that he said was crucial for bolstering immigration enforcement and processing capabilities.
Despite bipartisan negotiations for comprehensive immigration reform, which included provisions for additional Border Patrol and ICE personnel, asylum officers, and immigration judges, Mayorkas lamented Congress’ failure to act, prompting Biden’s executive measures.
Funny how you fail to name the 5 New York representatives who supported Biden and the democrats to block the bill.
Of course, these people are communists in disguise. All conservative people that I know think New York is a trash state with no real judicial system.
What’s the point of a republican congress, when they can’t even do their jobs? They had chances to disrupt the regime’s treason, and they couldn’t come together. I want all the names that voted for the regime, so we know who to primary.
Herd of RINOs.
It would be nice to have these traitors voted out of office, but looking at where most of them come from, there are three chances this will happen. Slim. Fat. None. The “leaders” of the Republican party should make note of these and do not put them on any committee of any importance.
On many issues republicans can have diverse views because they are a very diverse party. On certain core issue votes they should not tolerate members voting with democrats and Biden to destroy our country.
Damn Uniparty vote only