On Monday, House Democrats successfully shut down a controversial impeachment effort led by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene to remove Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas from his position. With the support of eight Republicans, the vote to block the impeachment resolution and refer it back to the House Homeland Security Committee was passed 209-201, leaving many wondering why some conservatives joined with Democrats on this issue.
The resolution filed by Greene aimed to impeach Mayorkas due to his handling of the illegal immigration crisis at the southern border, which has reached unprecedented levels under the Biden administration. However, the effort failed to gain enough support, with several moderate Republicans and 12 Democrats choosing not to vote on the measure.
The eight Republicans who voted to refer the resolution back to the committee were Reps. Ken Buck, Darrell Issa, Tom McClintock, Patrick McHenry, John Duarte, Virginia Foxx, Cliff Bentz, and Mike Turner. As of now, none of these members have given their reasoning for their vote, causing speculation among those who expected these Republicans to stand in solidarity with the GOP's push to impeach Mayorkas.
The DHS secretary's tenure has been marred by a surge of illegal border crossings, with the Biden administration's policies being blamed for fueling the crisis. Many have criticized the administration for weakening immigration enforcement and incentivizing individuals to make the dangerous journey to the United States. Furthermore, the majority of those who do make it across the border are released into the interior with little repercussions, leading to low compliance with court hearings and perpetuating the cycle of illegal immigration.
The failure of the impeachment effort against Mayorkas raises doubts about the possibility of impeaching President Joe Biden, as it is unlikely that Republican lawmakers would have the necessary unity to impeach the president.
This failure to act on the border crisis and the lack of support for impeachment efforts left many GOP voters frustrated with their elected representatives, who they feel are not doing enough to address the pressing issues facing the country. This sentiment has led to growing disappointment with the Republican party's performance and has fueled the constant accusations of "failure theater" against the party's leadership.
While the impeachment resolution against Mayorkas may have been blocked, the issue of illegal immigration and the crisis at the southern border continue to be a major concern for many Americans. It remains to be seen how the government will address this problem and whether politicians on both sides of the aisle will take the necessary steps to address it effectively.