Republicans IMPEACH Mayorkas In Historic Vote For Failing To Enforce Immigration Law At The Southern Border — Making the Homeland Security Secretary The First Sitting Cabinet Member To Be Impeached Since 1876.

The impeachment of Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas marks a historic event, making him the first cabinet secretary to face impeachment since War Secretary William Belknap in 1876. The House’s decision to impeach Mayorkas on two counts— “willful and systemic refusal to comply with the law” and “breach of public trust”—underscores the gravity of the situation surrounding his handling of the influx of migrants across the U.S.-Mexico border. The vote, which occurred with a narrow margin of 214-213, reflects the intense scrutiny and division over immigration policies and border security.

The articles of impeachment against Secretary Mayorkas accuse him of failing to uphold U.S. immigration law and of providing misleading information to Congress regarding the state of the U.S.-Mexico border. The measure narrowly passed by one vote, with three Republicans—Ken Buck (R-Colo.), Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), and Tom McClintock (R-Calif.)—joining Democrats in opposition.

President Biden criticized House Republicans for what he deemed a blatant act of unconstitutional partisanship, suggesting that history would judge them harshly for their actions. The vote comes amidst a backdrop of heightened scrutiny over the Biden administration’s immigration policies, with millions of illegal migrant encounters reported by U.S. border officials since Biden assumed office.

FINAL FY23 NUMBERS SHOW WORST YEAR AT AMERICA’S BORDERS—EVER

In Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23), the United States faced unparalleled challenges at its borders, with statistics painting a stark picture of the severity of the situation. Here are the key highlights:

1. Historic Encounters: Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recorded over 2.4 million encounters at the Southwest border alone, marking a significant escalation compared to previous years. Nationwide, this number surpassed 3.2 million encounters, underscoring the widespread nature of the crisis.
2. Terrorist Watchlist Apprehensions: Alarmingly, 169 individuals on the terrorist watchlist were apprehended while attempting to enter the country illegally during FY23. This raises serious concerns about national security vulnerabilities at the border.
3. Escaped Individuals: At least 1.7 million known individuals managed to evade apprehension since the start of FY2021. These “gotaways” represent a significant challenge to border enforcement efforts and raise questions about the effectiveness of current strategies.
4. Failure of Post-Title 42 Strategy: The Biden administration’s post-Title 42 strategy, aimed at managing migration flows, has been deemed a failure in light of these staggering numbers. Despite efforts to address the situation, the crisis has only worsened, leaving policymakers grappling with unprecedented challenges.
5. Uncertainty and Ineffectiveness: As the crisis escalates, there is a concerning lack of clarity regarding the number of dangerous illegal entries into the country. Border Patrol agents, overwhelmed by the influx, are being diverted from frontline duties to handle processing and releases, further exacerbating the situation.
6. Persistent Policy Challenges: Despite mounting apprehensions and encounters, Secretary Mayorkas continues to rely on mass parole programs, which critics argue incentivize and facilitate the entry of inadmissible aliens into the United States. This approach has faced criticism for its failure to address the root causes of the crisis.

As the situation continues to deteriorate, the Biden administration finds itself unable to gauge the extent of dangerous illegal entries into the country, particularly as Border Patrol agents are diverted from frontline duties to assist in processing and releasing the unprecedented influx of illegal migrants at the border. Despite the escalating monthly apprehensions and encounters, Secretary Mayorkas persists in his approach of mass parole programs, effectively incentivizing and facilitating the entry of otherwise inadmissible aliens into the United States on an unprecedented scale.

In summary, FY23 marked the worst year on record for America’s borders, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive and effective immigration policies. The staggering numbers underscore the gravity of the situation and the pressing need for decisive action to address the crisis.