House to Vote on Impeachment Articles This Week
FAIR Take | February 2024
The full House will vote on two articles of impeachment against Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas this week. The impeachment articles focus on Mayorkas’ willful and systemic refusal to comply with the law and his breach of the public trust. If the vote passes, it will be only the second time in U.S. history that a Cabinet level official has been impeached by the House of Representatives.
The House vote comes after the Homeland Security Committee approved the articles of impeachment against Mayorkas last week. The drafting of articles of impeachment was the outcome of a thorough five-phase investigation by the Committee, several oversight and border security hearings with expert witnesses, and two impeachment hearings over the course of the last year.
Republican House leadership has repeatedly emphasized its full support for the investigation and resulting impeachment effort. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) released a statement last Wednesday, commending the Homeland Committee and noting, “Today’s vote in the Committee is a solemn, but necessary step to bring accountability for the American communities devastated by the effects of an open border.” Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) also pledged his full support, stating that, “The border crisis is intentional, Secretary Mayorkas is responsible, and he must be held accountable… It’s time to impeach.”
The Homeland Security Committee’s consideration of the impeachment articles lasted nearly fifteen hours as Democrat members repeatedly attempted to stall the final vote. Prior to the committee’s 18-15 vote along party lines, minority leadership came out staunchly against the Secretary’s impeachment. Minority Leader Hakeem Jefferies (D-N.Y.) released a statement accusing House Republicans of, “wasting time on a fraudulent impeachment and political stunt.”
The two impeachment articles make a compelling case for Mayorkas’ removal. Article I lays out the Secretary’s willful and systemic refusal to comply with the law, and lists seven provisions in the Immigration and Nationality Act that Mayorkas has willfully violated. The article continues to detail how that refusal to follow the law has resulted in record illegal border crossings and mass catch-and-release in place of mandatory detention. Article II focuses on the Secretary’s breach of the public trust. It lists the numerous times Mayorkas has made false statements to Congress and the American people, obstructed congressional oversight of DHS, and minimized the impact of his disastrous immigration policies.
Secretary Mayorkas was invited by the Homeland Security Committee to testify in the impeachment proceedings but rejected that offer. Instead, on January 30, the morning the Committee was set to consider the impeachment articles, Secretary Mayorkas submitted a letter attacking the process. Throughout that letter, the Secretary denied the Committee’s allegations, and called their criticism “baseless and inaccurate.” He also argued that the Committee was levying “politically motivated accusations and personal attacks” against him. Chairman Green pushed back against the Secretary’s letter: “This 11th hour response demonstrates the lack of seriousness with which Secretary Mayorkas views his responsibilities.”
The truth is that Secretary Mayorkas has had years to reverse course and put the American people first. Instead, he has promoted open-borders policies that defy our immigration laws and jeopardize the safety and security of the United States. Without his removal, Secretary Mayorkas will continue to willfully disregard the law and put American lives at risk.
If the House votes in favor of the Secretary’s impeachment, the articles will move to the Senate, where it will take a two-thirds vote to remove him—if Majority Leader Schumer chooses to allow a vote on the Articles.
To learn more about the case against Secretary Mayorkas, click here. To read the Articles of Impeachment, click here.