Five House Republicans joined Democrats to block a measure seeking to censure Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ) and remove her from a committee assignment following her clash with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. The resolution, introduced by Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.), aimed to address allegations that McIver’s actions “do not reflect creditably on the House.” However, the measure failed to pass, with the final vote ending 215-207.

Higgins, who had previously attempted to push the censure resolution before the August recess, introduced it as a privileged matter, which requires a vote within two legislative days. McIver responded to the effort by accusing Higgins of avoiding accountability, stating, “We were all elected to do the people’s work. I take that responsibility seriously — Clay Higgins clearly does not.” She criticized Republicans for failing to conduct oversight and instead focusing on punishing her for challenging the administration.

The controversy stems from an incident in May when McIver, along with New Jersey Democrats Bonnie Watson Coleman and Rob Menendez, attempted to enter ICE’s Delaney Hall Detention Center in Newark. During the encounter, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested on trespassing charges but later had them dropped. McIver claimed she was “assaulted by multiple ICE agents” during the confrontation. Federal prosecutors subsequently charged her with assaulting and resisting law enforcement officials, leading to a grand jury indictment on three counts of interfering with federal officers. McIver has pleaded not guilty.

Several Republicans who voted to table the censure measure or cast abstentions are members of the House Ethics Committee, including Reps. Dave Joyce (R-Ohio) and Andrew Garbarino (R-N.Y.). The panel is investigating McIver following her indictment, a required step under House rules. Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) explained his support for the decision to delay the censure, stating, “I think best to let Ethics Committee finish its report.”

The failed censure effort highlights ongoing tensions within Congress over oversight of federal agencies and the handling of disciplinary actions against lawmakers.