House Republicans will convene Wednesday morning, amid an increase in migration at the US-Mexico border, to determine whether to commence impeachment proceedings against Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen. Speaker Mike Johnson led GOP lawmakers along one of the busiest stretches along this border region for this event.
Why?
House Republicans are united in their opposition to the Biden administration’s border policies, though not everyone believes impeachment proceedings are the right path forward. With their slim majority, opposition from even some members could threaten to derail any attempt to impeach Mayorkas for “high crimes and misdemeanors.”
This week, the chairman of the Homeland Security Committee launched an investigation to accuse Secretary Kelly of dereliction of duty by failing to reduce migrant crossings that reached record numbers during fiscal year 2023. Furthermore, this panel plans on holding show trial hearings to demonstrate evidence against him in which it believes he violated his oath of office by disregarding congressional requests for immigration policy changes and diverting taxpayer funds to his personal gain.
Impeachment advocates are doing everything in their power to convince doubters of the case against Homeland Security Chief John Kelly meeting the constitutional standard for removal from office – no small feat given Joe Biden’s two failed impeachment attempts both fell short of receiving two-thirds majority in Senate votes.
What’s the Catch?
House Republicans have taken swift action against Mayorkas this year. A House committee will hear testimony Jan. 10 from Missouri, Montana and Oklahoma Attorneys General regarding how their states have been affected by what they see as Mayorkas’ failure to enforce immigration laws effectively.
Rep. Mark Green of Tennessee has accused Mayorkas of supporting illegal immigration and violating his oath to uphold Congress-passed laws. Eight Republicans joined Democrats to kill an effort led by hard-right Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia to impeach Mayorkas.
Impeachment proceedings begin with a majority vote in the House, but require two-thirds Senate supermajority approval to convict and remove an official from office. Many Senate Republicans view impeachment proceedings as unnecessary; their focus lies with avoiding government shutdown this month while reaching an agreement that couples border security funding with aid for Ukraine, Israel and Indo-Pacific nations.
How Will It Play Out?
As Congress deals with funding the government and strengthening border security this month, impeachment talk among House Republicans has grown. They accuse Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas of derelict leadership when responding to border crises; on Jan 10, a House panel will hold its inaugural impeachment hearing against him.
Rep. Mark Green of Tennessee, chairman of the committee, has accused Mayorkas of endangering Americans and arming drug cartels with his “open borders” policies. Green cited various reports alleging he failed to enforce laws passed by Congress and misrepresented department actions during testimony under oath.
But this move comes at a time when Senate Republican leaders have expressed little enthusiasm for impeaching Mayorkas, which requires two-thirds majority support to convict. Additionally, they wish to avoid interfering with bipartisan border package negotiations; and their push for trial has angered conservative firebrands eager to see him depart from office.
What’s the Next Step?
House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform will conduct numerous hearings with the goal of impeaching Mayorkas by holding multiple votes of impeachment in full House session. Chairman Mark Green (R-Tenn) promises that their investigation will prove that Mayorkas is failing in his responsibility to safeguard Americans.
Hearings could lead to an impeachment trial, though only one cabinet official has ever been impeached before now. It remains uncertain how many GOP members would support an attempt by President Obama to remove his Homeland Security secretary through impeachment proceedings.
Last year, eight Republicans joined Democrats to block a rogue impeachment effort led by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia who sought Mayorkas’s impeachment. According to Axios’ reporting, some of those same Republicans who opposed Greene have indicated their openness to an official leadership-sanctioned effort against Mayorkas’s impeachment; Axios reports this push comes amid administration-Senate negotiators attempting to strike an agreement regarding stricter border security measures; The White House has blamed Republicans for blocking funding for border patrol agents, asylum officers and immigration judges and for cutting funds that help host communities accommodate migrants.
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