Votes go against Republicans 214-216

In a significant reversal, House Republicans were unable to proceed with the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, falling just short of the necessary votes due to a lack of unanimous GOP support. This effort was part of a broader attempt to hold the Biden administration accountable for its immigration policies, particularly the handling of the U.S.-Mexico border. Despite the unified opposition from Democrats, the slim Republican majority required nearly full party alignment to pass the impeachment articles.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, acknowledging the gravity of impeachment, had lobbied for support among GOP members, framing the situation as requiring drastic measures due to exceptional circumstances. The move against Mayorkas was politically charged, coinciding with an escalation of border security as a key issue for the 2024 elections, a narrative strongly pushed by Republicans and former President Donald Trump.

The impeachment initiative targeted Mayorkas for what Republicans describe as a failure to manage the border effectively, amid rising numbers of migrants. The House Democrats, however, dismissed the impeachment as a political stunt to curry favor with Trump, lacking substantial grounds as defined by the Constitution.

Even if the House had succeeded in impeaching Mayorkas, conviction in the Senate seemed unlikely, with many Republican senators expressing skepticism about the effort. This impeachment push came as Republicans also pursued investigations into President Biden and his family, with Secretary Mayorkas being a notable focus due to the border situation and the flow of fentanyl into the U.S.

The impeachment proceedings lacked the intensity of previous instances, with key figures such as Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene leading the charge against Mayorkas. Critics within the GOP, including Reps. Tom McClintock and Ken Buck, argued against the impeachment, questioning its constitutional basis and political motivation.

The failed impeachment effort reflects a broader trend of using such measures for political aims, raising concerns about the implications for governance and the constitutional balance of powers.