Jeffries accuses Republicans of creating false title for Kamala Harris in border role.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., has accused Republicans of fabricating the title of “border czar” in reference to Vice President Kamala Harris. This accusation came just before six members of his House Democratic Caucus voted to criticize her handling of the migrant crisis.

Jeffries spoke out at his weekly press conference, stating, “We have a single legislative item that is on the floor today…it’s a fake and fraudulent resolution cooked up, I think, by one of the representatives from New York — continues to embarrass herself regularly — that lies about the vice president. She was never assigned the position of border czar. They’re making that up because the extreme MAGA Republicans are in full meltdown.”

The resolution in question was introduced by House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y. Harris was appointed by President Biden in 2021 to lead the administration’s response to the border crisis, with a focus on the root causes of mass migration from Central and South America.

Republicans have consistently criticized Harris for not doing enough in this role, with these attacks intensifying after she was selected to run as Biden’s replacement in the November 2024 election. However, Democrats and certain media outlets have claimed that Harris was never officially given the title of “border czar,” including Axios, which referred to her as such back in April 2021.

Jeffries continued to defend Harris, asserting, “They are making that up because they have no affirmative agenda, vision, or track record for the American people.” His remarks preceded the passing of Stefanik’s resolution by the House, marking the first significant House legislation targeting Harris since she became the Democrats’ presumptive nominee.

Half a dozen Democrats crossed party lines to support the measure, which passed with a vote of 220 to 196. The House Democrats who voted for the resolution included Representatives Jared Golden of Maine, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington, Mary Peltola of Alaska, Henry Cuellar of Texas, Don Davis of North Carolina, and Yadira Caraveo of Colorado.

Despite the support of key Democratic leaders such as Jeffries, ex-Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., these six Democrats have not endorsed Harris as Biden’s chosen successor.

During the press conference, Jeffries took a swipe at House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., but claimed that no House Democrats had raised concerns about the party’s handling of recent political developments.

He stated, “I haven’t had a single conversation with a member of the House Democratic Caucus who has expressed that they are upset with what has unfolded. President Biden…as he indicated last night, was ready to make his case to the American people, decided in a selfless way to pass the torch to the next generation of Democrats, led by Vice President Harris. We are unified. The other side is falling apart.”