The House of Representatives voted to impeach Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas on Tuesday night. The vote tally was 214-213.
The same three Republicans who voted against the impeachment articles last week repeated their votes. This includes Representatives Ken Buck (R-CO), Tom McClintock (R-CA), and Mike Gallagher (R-WI). Democrats voted against the measure upon party lines.
The proceeding – triggered by the majority of Republicans’ belief that Secretary Mayorkas has neglected his post and committed dereliction of duty – will force the Homeland Security Secretary to stand trial in the Senate.
This is the first time a Cabinet secretary has been impeached since 1876, according to Fox News.
Representative Byron Donalds (R-FL) appeared on Fox News immediately after voting to remove Secretary Mayorkas and declared that they had “answered the call,” formally beginning the impeachment process.
“What has happened to our southern border is a travesty. It is a manmade crisis. It is a political crisis brought to us by the Democrats and Joe Biden. And the American people deserve better. House Republicans stand with them to make sure that we’re going to do everything we can to secure our nation,” said Rep. Donalds.
Representative Troy Nehls (R-TX) provided a statement as well, invoking the nation's founders to emphasize his belief in Mayorkas’ removal.
“The Framers considered impeachment to be an essential tool to hold government officers accountable for political crimes, or offenses against the state,” said Rep. Nehls. “The articles of impeachment against Secretary Mayorkas provide that he has willfully and systematically refused to comply with immigration laws enacted by Congress and has breached the public trust by knowingly making false statements to Congress and the American people and obstructing Congressional oversight of his department.”
Representative Paul Gosar (R-AZ) provided a rationale for voting to impeach Mayorkas as well.
“Once again, I voted to impeach Secretary Mayorkas for failing to uphold and execute our immigration laws and repeatedly lying to Congress and the American people … By choosing to ignore the laws, instructing border patrol agents to welcome, caress and help illegal aliens, Secretary Mayorkas has violated his Constitutional oath of office and deserves impeachment,” concluded Rep. Gosar.
Furthermore, Representative Laurel Lee (R-FL) reiterated that the Homeland Security Secretary has violated his oath of office.
“Secretary Mayorkas has defied his oath of office to protect our homeland since he was sworn in 3 years ago, refusing to follow the laws of our nation, which is an abuse of power and breach of public trust,” said Rep. Laurel Lee. “The mass number of illegal immigrants and fentanyl crossing in over our borders has posed a grave danger to our national security, and Americans have had enough. Congress’s job is to conduct oversight and to provide accountability—that is why I voted to impeach Secretary Mayorkas.”
Representative Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) posted his thoughts on social media following last week’s vote and included reasoning to support the impeachment of Mayorkas.
Tonight, I voted to impeach DHS Secretary Mayorkas. Unfortunately that vote failed.
Impeachment is a political act, not a judicial one. We aren’t a court. Impeachment is our sole recourse for the people to remove a President or an official who has overwhelmingly lost the trust…
— Dan Crenshaw (@DanCrenshawTX) February 7, 2024
“The Founders enshrined impeachment as a recourse for the Legislative Branch to remove those in the Executive Branch who aren’t doing their jobs — even if there’s no crime. It’s a feature of the checks and balances principle. That’s my interpretation of the impeachment authority,” said Rep. Crenshaw. “Other smart people disagree, and believe a provable crime must be committed. But if that’s the case - and there’s a crime committed - then wouldn’t we rely on the courts to enforce?”
He concluded, “Mayorkas has abandoned his position as DHS Secretary. He has refused to execute his basic duties under the law and refused to enforce immigration law. Mayorkas will be impeached. This isn’t finished.”
Representative Eli Crane (R-AZ) kept it much shorter compared to his colleagues above.
Secretary Mayorkas has finally been impeached.
When you violate your duty to the American people by knowingly facilitating an invasion, there must be consequences.
SECURE THE BORDER
— Rep. Eli Crane (@RepEliCrane) February 14, 2024
“Secretary Mayorkas has finally been impeached. When you violate your duty to the American people by knowingly facilitating an invasion, there must be consequences. SECURE THE BORDER,” said Rep. Crane.
The Democrats hold a slim majority in the upper chamber and it requires a two-thirds vote to convict those who’ve been impeached. It is not likely Secretary Mayorkas will be removed.
This is a developing story.
