Republicans and Democrats Fail to Impeach Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas – Shift in Support Surprises Critics
In a surprising turn of events, Republicans and Democrats in the House of Representatives failed to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. A small group of Republicans joined forces with Democrats to vote against the impeachment proposal, resulting in a 209 to 201 vote in favor of referring the resolution back to the Homeland Security Committee.
The proposal, introduced by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, received support from both establishment and moderate Republicans. This unexpected support highlights a significant shift in opinions regarding Secretary Mayorkas since the beginning of this Congress. Previously, many Republicans were hesitant about the idea of impeaching him. However, Rep. Taylor Greene’s collaboration with Rep. Tony Gonzales, a moderate Republican from a border district in Texas, helped garner support for the resolution. Rep. Gonzales stated, Enough is enough, emphasizing the need for a change in leadership at the Department of Homeland Security.
Impeachment proceedings against Cabinet secretaries are exceedingly rare, with only one instance of such action taken against Secretary of War William Belknap in 1876. The current Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, Mark Green, is conducting his own investigation into Secretary Mayorkas. This investigation, consisting of five phases, could potentially lead to an impeachment vote. Chairman Green expressed his support for whatever measures are necessary to remove Mayorkas from office, but he also expressed a desire to conclude his investigation before taking further action.
Rep. Taylor Greene’s impeachment resolution accused Secretary Mayorkas of failing to uphold U.S. law and maintain operational control of the border. The resolution specifically mentioned the admission of border crossers, terrorists, human traffickers, drugs, and other contraband as evidence of Mayorkas’ alleged failure to fulfill his responsibilities under the Secure Fence Act of 2006.
Under the Biden administration, border patrol agents have reportedly apprehended migrants approximately 6.6 million times, with additional individuals estimated to have evaded capture. These figures contribute to the concerns raised by those in support of Secretary Mayorkas’ impeachment.
This marks the third privileged resolution introduced by Rep. Taylor Greene recently, bypassing House leadership to force floor votes. Last week, she introduced a resolution to censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib, which ultimately failed after Republicans objected to the claim that Tlaib incited an insurrection. This week, Rep. Taylor Greene revised the language of her resolution to focus on Tlaib’s alleged involvement in an illegal occupation. However, Rep. Rich McCormick’s resolution to censure Tlaib for antisemitic language was voted on first and successfully passed with 22 Democratic votes. Consequently, Rep. Taylor Greene withdrew her resolution shortly before Rep. McCormick’s resolution succeeded.
The Department of Homeland Security criticized Rep. Taylor Greene’s impeachment resolution, referring to it as a reckless impeachment charade. A spokesperson for the department highlighted Secretary Mayorkas’ dedication to his job and commitment to keeping Americans safe.
In conclusion, the failed impeachment attempt against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has surprised critics, with a small group of Republicans aligning with Democrats to halt the proceedings. While some Republicans and moderate voices supported the impeachment resolution, others, like Chairman Mark Green, prefer to conclude their own investigations before making a final decision. The resolution accused Mayorkas of failing to maintain border control, and concerns about the number of apprehended migrants have only heightened the urgency among those in favor of impeachment. Nonetheless, Mayorkas remains in his position, and the outcome of future impeachment efforts remains uncertain.
