Impeachment Bid Against Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas Falters in House Vote
In a dramatic turn of events on Tuesday evening, the Republican-led House rejected a resolution seeking to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, dealing a setback to GOP leadership as the vote nearly reached a tie.
Key Highlights:
- The resolution was defeated by a narrow margin of 214-216, with four Republicans breaking ranks to vote against it, while all 212 Democrats opposed the impeachment effort.
- A moment of chaos ensued during the tally, almost resulting in a tie, but Rep. Blake Moore (Utah) changed his vote to “nay,” allowing the possibility of reintroducing the legislation.
- House Homeland Security Chair Mark Green (R-Tenn.) initiated the impeachment articles last month, accusing Mayorkas of systemic non-compliance with the law and breach of public trust.
Chief Points of Contention:
- The first article claimed Mayorkas’ failure to consistently detain undocumented immigrants and his parole practices led to “calamitous consequences for the Nation.”
- The second article accused Mayorkas of providing false information to Congress about the border’s security and DHS’s operational control, characterizing it as a “breach of public trust.”
Criticism and Defense:
- Mayorkas defended his record, acknowledging issues in the immigration system and urging legislative action to address border security deficiencies.
- GOP critics argued incompetence isn’t constitutional grounds for impeachment, while some legal experts questioned whether the charges met the constitutional threshold.
Background:
- Mayorkas has faced GOP criticism amid high migrant arrests at the U.S.-Mexico border, with Republicans blaming Biden’s immigration policy for the surge.
- The impeachment push followed the Senate’s unveiling of bipartisan legislation aimed at tightening border controls, a move resisted by some Republicans.
Conclusion:
- The failed impeachment attempt underscores ongoing tensions over immigration policies, with Mayorkas maintaining that he is fulfilling the president’s directives.
- Notably, successful cabinet secretary impeachments are extremely rare, with the last instance occurring in 1876 involving Secretary of War William Belknap, who was acquitted in a Senate trial.