House Democrats, aided by a small group of Republicans, successfully thwarted an attempt led by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
The final vote, with a tally of 209-201, saw eight Republicans aligning with Democrats to support a motion diverting the impeachment resolution to the House Homeland Security Committee instead of proceeding to a floor vote.
BREAKING: MTG UNLOADS on 8 Republicans who voted with Democrats to STOP Sec. Mayorkas Impeachment over border catastrophe:
“ABSOLUTELY SHAMEFUL!” pic.twitter.com/DeSdXIpAvs
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) November 14, 2023
Notably, 24 members, including 12 Democrats and 12 Republicans, abstained from voting.
Greene introduced the impeachment resolution on Thursday, seeking to push for an immediate vote without a committee hearing.
The resolution, if passed, would have propelled Mayorkas’s impeachment directly to the Senate for trial. The Department of Homeland Security criticized Congress for “wasting time” and urged it to focus on critical issues such as funding the government, immigration system reform, and addressing the border crisis.
Mayorkas has faced mounting calls for impeachment over the past year, primarily concerning his handling of the border crisis. Republicans have expressed concerns about the impact on national security and public safety due to the surge of illegal immigrants evading overwhelmed Border Patrol agents under Mayorkas’s leadership.
In September, illegal alien encounters at the southern border reached a record high of 260,000, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by border officials.
I will not stop fighting to hold the Biden administration accountable for their open border policies that are killing Americans every day.
It's time for Republicans to grow a spine and join me in impeaching Mayorkas and others who are destroying our country. pic.twitter.com/y525akoPvK
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) November 14, 2023
Mayorkas confirmed that over 600,000 illegal immigrants evaded law enforcement at the southern border during fiscal year 2023. Despite the impeachment attempt, Mayorkas remains focused on national security priorities, according to a statement from the Department of Homeland Security, which dismissed the impeachment effort as baseless and distracting.
