US Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas Impeached by House of Representatives Amidst Border Crisis
In a historic move, the House of Representatives has voted to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, making him the first cabinet member to face impeachment in nearly 150 years. This decision comes as Republicans blame Mayorkas for the unprecedented influx of migrants at the US-Mexico border. The Republican-led chamber narrowly voted 214 to 213 for the measure, following a failed attempt last week. However, the impeachment now heads to the Democratic-led Senate, where it appears unlikely to succeed.
President Joe Biden has criticized the vote as a “blatant act of unconstitutional partisanship” and a “political stunt.” On the other hand, opponents of Mayorkas argue that he has not fulfilled his duty to secure the border, accusing him of failing to live up to his oath. The vote largely followed party lines, with 210 Democrats voting against the impeachment. Two Democrats were unable to vote due to illness and a flight delay.
Notably, three Republican representatives broke ranks and voted against the impeachment. Tom McClintock of California, Ken Buck of Colorado, and Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin argued that impeaching someone who had not committed a serious crime would undermine the constitutional penalty and do little to address the border crisis. Gallagher has since announced that he will not seek re-election.
The issue of immigration has become highly contentious, with over 6.3 million migrants entering the US illegally since 2021. This has made it a central focus of former President Donald Trump’s campaign to remove President Biden from office. Prior to the vote, President Biden released a statement defending Mayorkas as an “honorable public servant” who has faithfully upheld the rule of law.
Critics have accused Republicans of prioritizing political grandstanding over addressing the serious challenges at the border. Mia Ehrenberg, a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security, argued that Republicans were “trampling on the constitution” instead of working towards solutions.
Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson firmly believes that Mayorkas “deserves to be impeached.” During two hearings in January, Republicans accused Mayorkas of failing to enforce immigration policies and lying about border security. While Mayorkas did not testify, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security stated that he had offered to do so.
Although the impeachment has passed the House, Mayorkas currently faces no immediate threat of losing his job. The Senate, which is narrowly controlled by the Democrats, would need a two-thirds majority to convict him. Several Republican senators, such as James Lankford, Tommy Tuberville, and Mitt Romney, have also expressed criticism of the impeachment. Lankford went so far as to call it “dead on arrival” in the Senate.
The impeachment articles are expected to be presented to the Senate on February 26 when it reconvenes after recess. It is worth noting that the last cabinet secretary to be impeached was Secretary of War William Belknap in 1876, although he resigned shortly before the vote.
Public opinion on the border crisis is divided, with nearly half of Americans viewing it as a crisis, according to a January poll conducted by CBS. Additionally, 63% of respondents expressed a desire for “tougher” immigration policies. The US Customs and Border Protection agency has reported a 50% decrease in border crossings in January, attributing this drop to seasonal trends and enhanced enforcement efforts. Experts have also credited increased enforcement by the Mexican government for reducing migrant encounters at the border.
Furthermore, there has been a shift in migrant crossings from Texas to Arizona and California. State officials in Texas have attributed this shift to unilateral border security efforts. Overall, the border crisis remains a pressing issue that requires thoughtful and effective solutions.
