Trump-Pardoned Rep. Cuellar Joins Republicans to Pass DHS Funding Bill
A Texas Democrat who was pardoned by President Donald Trump last year is now drawing attention after voting with Republicans to fund the Department of Homeland Security.
Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) was one of four Democrats who broke with party leadership and supported a Republican-backed DHS funding bill aimed at ending a partial government shutdown.
The House passed the measure by a 221–207 vote, with most Democrats opposing the bill over concerns it lacked stronger oversight of immigration enforcement agencies.
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According to reporting on the vote, Cuellar joined Republicans despite Democratic leaders urging members to reject the legislation amid ongoing disputes about ICE and Border Patrol policies.
Cuellar had previously faced federal bribery charges before Trump issued a pardon in December 2025, allowing him to return to his leadership role on a House appropriations panel overseeing DHS spending.
The vote comes as Congress remains locked in a broader fight over immigration enforcement and federal funding for homeland security operations.
The bill now heads to the Senate, where it will need bipartisan support to advance.
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