House GOP fails to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas

the House of Representatives rejected a Republican-led effort on Tuesday to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. This move aimed to deliver a rebuke to the Biden administration’s immigration and border policies, but it ultimately fell short.

The final vote tally stood at 214-216, with four Republicans crossing party lines to join all Democrats in sinking the impeachment measure. Among those Republicans, Colorado Rep. Ken Buck, California Rep. Tom McClintock, Utah Rep. Blake Moore, and Wisconsin Rep. Mike Gallagher played pivotal roles in tipping the scales against the motion.

During the vote, tensions rose as the count remained tied at 215-215 for several minutes, with efforts from Republican lawmakers to sway Gallagher’s vote. Despite the Republican efforts, Democrats cheered as the impeachment measure failed to gain traction.

In response to the vote outcome, White House spokesperson Ian Sams labeled the impeachment attempt as “baseless” and “unconstitutional.” Similarly, Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Mia Ehrenberg dismissed the move as a “political game,” urging Republicans to focus on bipartisan solutions for border security.

Following the failed impeachment vote, House Republicans encountered another setback with the rejection of a $17 billion Israel aid bill in a bipartisan 250-180 vote. House Speaker Mike Johnson swiftly left the Capitol without addressing reporters, indicating intentions to reintroduce the measure when sufficient support is garnered.

Despite the defeat, Rep. Mark Green, R-Tenn., expressed determination to revisit the impeachment efforts against Mayorkas, emphasizing the months-long push by House Republicans to hold him accountable for perceived failures in border security. However, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries criticized the impeachment attempt as a “sham” and an endeavor to appease former President Donald Trump.

In the broader context, the failed impeachment highlights deep partisan divisions over immigration policies and underscores the challenges in achieving bipartisan consensus on border security issues. As Mayorkas remains in his position, the prospects for significant policy changes in the Homeland Security department remain uncertain.