In a startling display of internal disorganization, eight Republican House members on Monday allied with Democrats to halt the drive to impeach Joe Biden’s Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. This decision is a significant setback to conservative lawmakers who have censured Mayorkas for his lax border policies.
The impeachment resolution, spearheaded by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), faced a crucial vote that could have fast-tracked it to the Senate. Yet, in a striking turn, those Republicans chose to stand with the opposition, effectively shielding Mayorkas from accountability.
To the 8 Republicans who voted with Dems to kill the impeachment of Mayorkas:
How many more Americans have to die while you claim impeachment has to be done the “right way?”
My articles have been rotting in committee and now go back on the shelf.
Your excuses are pathetic!
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) November 14, 2023
The House Republicans coming to Mayorkas’ rescue are:
Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO)
Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA)
Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA)
Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC)
Rep. John Duarte (R-CA)
Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC)
Rep. Cliff Bentz (R-OR)
Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH)
The group immediately drew sharp criticism from their colleagues and conservative observers alike. Their stance was seen as a betrayal by those demanding stringent border security and a firmer hand in immigration enforcement.
The Department of Homeland Security, under Mayorkas, has been under the microscope for its management of the southern border. Critics argue that since the Biden administration took charge, policies have shifted toward a more open border stance, causing an unprecedented humanitarian and security crisis. The stark increase in migrant encounters in recent months underscores the depth of the issue.
.@GOP is a total mess – DHS Secretary Mayorkas is failing on every level and there are 8 Republicans who just want to continue to lose on epic levels by siding with Dems on the vote to send @MTG impeachment articles to committee – But what’s worse is that it’s the American people… https://t.co/p09FwfaH2Z
— Sara A. Carter (@SaraCarterDC) November 14, 2023
In a statement, Mayorkas has denied the crisis, yet the numbers speak volumes. With encounters at the southern border hitting new highs, the argument for a secure border becomes more compelling. The surge of illegal substances and the risk to migrant children are just two aspects of a multi-faceted issue that many feel Mayorkas has inadequately addressed.
The choice by these eight GOP members to oppose Greene’s resolution has raised eyebrows across the political spectrum. It’s a decision that has hampered the impeachment process and sowed seeds of doubt about the Republican commitment to border security. The failure to present a united front on such a critical issue could have lasting implications.
DHS Secretary Mayorkas has intentionally failed to secure the border for nearly THREE YEARS.
He deserves to be FIRED.
Yet tonight, 8 Republicans voted with Democrats to kill @RepMTG’s resolution to impeach Mayorkas.
— Rep. Andrew Clyde (@Rep_Clyde) November 14, 2023
A year ago, then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) called for Mayorkas’ resignation, emphasizing the severity of the border situation. His words reflected a staunch position seemingly softened within parts of the Republican caucus.
House leadership opted for a procedural maneuver, referring the resolution to the Homeland Security Committee rather than bringing it directly to a vote. This move, perceived as a delay tactic by some, has further frustrated those demanding immediate action.
Rep. Greene, known for her outspoken stance on immigration and border security, expressed outrage over the decision. She and her supporters see the referral as a stalling mechanism to bury the resolution in the labyrinth of committee processes.
As the House navigates this impasse, the DHS has dismissed the impeachment efforts as a distraction from national security priorities. However, for many concerned citizens and conservative lawmakers, the integrity of the nation’s borders remains a pressing national security concern in its own right.
The split within the GOP on the Mayorkas impeachment issue highlights the complexities of achieving policy goals in a divided government. While the impeachment bid has been sidelined for now, the debate over border security and the role of the DHS secretary is far from over.
