In a significant move, House Republicans advance impeachment articles against DHS Secretary Mayorkas. The decision sets the stage for a full House vote, marking a rare step toward impeaching a Cabinet official.
Despite constitutional experts questioning the evidence, the House Homeland Security Committee passed the resolution, accusing Mayorkas of high crimes and misdemeanors related to his handling of the southern border.
If the impeachment articles proceed, Mayorkas would become the first Cabinet secretary to face impeachment in nearly 150 years. The push for impeachment reflects mounting pressure on House Republicans from their base to hold the Biden administration accountable for border-related issues.
The impeachment articles, passing along party lines, indicate growing momentum for the effort. However, some GOP members, including Rep. Dan Newhouse, remain less definitive in their stance.
House Homeland Security Chairman Mark Green has been actively building support and has presented his case to senior Republicans, emphasizing Mayorkas' alleged refusal to comply with the law.
“„These articles lay out a clear, compelling, and irrefutable case for Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas’ impeachment. He has willfully and systemically refused to comply with immigration laws enacted by Congress. He has breached the public trust by knowingly making false statements to Congress and the American people, and obstructing congressional oversight of his department.- House Homeland Security Chairman Mark Green
Despite a bipartisan deal being negotiated in the Senate to address border policies, House Speaker Mike Johnson has signaled a rejection. The effort showcases a shift for House Republicans, previously considered the possibility of impeaching President Joe Biden in 2024.
Chairman Mark Green, R-Tenn., center, joined by Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., the ranking member, leads the House Homeland Security Committee move to impeach Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas over the crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) criticized the upcoming committee vote as a "farce" and a distraction from national security priorities. DHS dismissed the impeachment inquiry as predetermined, cynical, and hypocritical.
The agency defended Mayorkas, stating that more migrants had been removed, returned, or expelled in three years than the prior administration did in four years.
Democrats on the Homeland Security Committee condemned the GOP effort, calling it a "sham." The focus on Mayorkas represents a shift for House Republicans, previously targeting potential impeachment of President Biden.
During the investigative phase, Homeland Security Committee Republicans held hearings, published reports, and conducted interviews. However, the committee decided to move forward with impeachment articles without allowing Secretary Mayorkas an opportunity to testify.
The House Homeland Security Committee has approved two articles of impeachment against Mayorkas, accusing him of repeatedly violating immigration and border security laws. The approval sets the stage for a floor vote on Mayorkas' impeachment, potentially occurring as early as next week.
The approval followed a contentious hearing where Republicans outlined their case against Mayorkas, emphasizing record-high border crossings and alleged mishandling of the border crisis. Democrats accused Republicans of using the impeachment process for political motives.
Secretary Mayorkas defended his record, urging Congress to provide legislative solutions to the complex immigration issue. He highlighted bipartisan efforts in the Senate to find solutions and called for unity in addressing the historically divisive matter.
The Biden administration attributes the border crisis to broader Hemisphere-wide issues and a broken immigration system. They emphasize the need for comprehensive immigration reform and point to significant removals and daily removal rates since May.
The impeachment proceedings against Secretary Mayorkas mark a pivotal moment with potential implications for the Biden administration's handling of border-related challenges.
The partisan nature of the proceedings underscores the broader political tensions surrounding immigration policies.