Story of the Week •
February 15th, 2024
Is the Border Crisis Mayorkas' Fault?
REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo
On Tuesday, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives narrowly voted to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
House Republicans accuse Mayorkas of “willful and systemic refusal to comply with the law” in regard to enforcing immigration policy. The vote passed 214-213, after failing 214-216 when Congress voted on it for the first time last week.
Mayorkas is the first cabinet official to be impeached by the House in almost 150 years. Outlets across the spectrum are predicting the impeachment will be rejected by the Democrat-controlled Senate.
For some, Mayorkas' impeachment is a political stunt conducted to overshadow Republicans' failure to pass legislation on immigration. For others, it's a rebuke of a rogue official who has endangered Americans through a dereliction of his duty.
Writing in the Wall Street Journal Opinion (Lean Right bias), Rep. Mark Green (R-TN) called the impeachment "the right thing to do.” Green outlined the case for impeachment, arguing that Mayorkas “willfully refused to comply with the law” by "disregarding numerous provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act." Green adds that Mayorkas "breached the public trust, both by violating his statutory duty to control the border and by knowingly making false statements to Congress." Green concludes, "The Senate must finish the House’s work and convict Secretary Mayorkas."
A writer in the Washington Times (Lean Right bias) called the impeachment "well deserved," arguing that Mayorkas "turned blind eyes to the border and allowed in unprecedented levels of illegals — of potential murderers, of perhaps rapists, of maybe terrorists — and all the while digging in deep on self-defense with his arrogant smug tone when questioned by Congress. And he still calls the allegations of his willful refusal to enforce law 'brless.'”
A columnist for MSNBC (Left bias) labeled the impeachment vote a “rather dramatic abuse of congressional power” and determined it revealed something about House Republicans, writing, "During a related effort in November, eight GOP members balked at the idea of impeaching Mayorkas. In the final vote, that total was down to three. As we recently discussed, the next time you see someone reference the House Republicans’ 'moderate' wing, remember that all the members of this wing can fit comfortably in a midsized sedan — with room to spare."
A writer in Mother Jones (Left bias) said the impeachment will be remembered as "one of the most futile uses of this constitutional power," adding, "Throughout, Republicans have had trouble distinguishing what makes Mayorkas’ conduct impeachable. Many wanted a crackdown at the border. But, as Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.), one of the holdouts from the last impeachment told CNN, removing Mayorkas for disagreements on border policy would amount to 'redefining the fundamental definition of impeachment' away from misuse of power to political differences."
An article in Reuters (Center bias) broke down the arguments presented in the impeachment proceeding, reporting that "Constitutional experts and even some Republicans have said the House investigation of Mayorkas failed to provide evidence of the 'high crimes and misdemeanors' that the U.S. Constitution cites as reasons for impeachment. Instead, they cast the fight as merely 'policy disputes.'"
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said senators would be sworn in as jurors shortly after returning from break on Feb. 26.
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More from the Left
The Mayorkas Impeachment Is Just the Latest GOP Stunt
The Nation (opinion)
"This is the other message of the Mayorkas impeachment: It’s very much of a piece with the plans already on the books for a second Trump administration to round up migrants into detention camps for mass deportations, to convert the federal workforce into a new model MGA army, and to continue the ideological pillaging of the justice system from the right. In other words, the show trials could be just beginning."
More from the Right
The House should impeach the entire Biden administration
The Washington Examiner (opinion)
"The impeachment of Mayorkas should be the first and not the last impeachment of a Biden administration official. It is an administration replete with lawless officials who have abused their authority to the detriment of the people of the United States. President Joe Biden should be at the very top of the list for impeachment, and while there is an impeachment inquiry into the president, it should be expedited."
More from the Center
Republicans impeach Mayorkas in historic vote
The Hill
"The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) described the vote as advancing 'without a shred of evidence or legitimate Constitutional grounds.' Tuesday’s 214-213 vote is a recovery from an embarrassing speed bump for Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), whose fractious conference — particularly Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) — had made impeaching Mayorkas a priority as they seek to make the border a central issue ahead of November."
