By Wonderwall.com Editors
6:00pm PST, Feb 17, 2024
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On Feb. 13 — after failing in their first attempt a week earlier — the U.S. House of Representatives voted 214 to 213 to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, charging him with willfully refusing to enforce border laws and breaching the public trust. The historic vote led by Republicans makes Mayorkas the first sitting cabinet secretary in history to be impeached.
The impeachment articles now head to the Democratic-majority Senate where they're expected to be rejected.
Keep reading to learn how the president, members of Congress, Senators and more are reacting…
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"For nearly a year, the House Homeland Security Committee has taken a careful and methodical approach to this investigation and the results are clear: from his first day in office, Secretary Mayorkas has willfully and consistently refused to comply with federal immigration laws, fueling the worst border catastrophe in American history," House Speaker Mike Johnson said in a statement. "He has undermined public trust through multiple false statements to Congress, obstructed lawful oversight of the Department of Homeland Security, and violated his oath of office."
"Alejandro Mayorkas deserves to be impeached, and Congress has a constitutional obligation to do so," Johnson continued. "Next to a declaration of war, impeachment is arguably the most serious authority given to the House and we have treated this matter accordingly. Since this secretary refuses to do the job that the Senate confirmed him to do, the House must act."
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"Alejandro Mayorkas has just been impeached bythe House of Representatives. His open-borders policies have led to ACTUAL death and destruction within our country. It is now incumbent upon the Senate to take this up and remove this man from office. He has NO place in our government." –Rep. Lauren Boebert on X
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"Let's start with the border crisis, shall we? For months, Congress has been unable to take concrete steps to find a real solution. But yesterday, House Republicans stood up, joined hands and said, 'F*** it, let's pull a cheap stunt instead," guest host Jordan Klepper said on "The Daily Show," referring to the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
"Really, House Republicans? Really? That's grounds for impeachment now, doing a bad job? That's the standard you guys what to set? Because you're not exactly crushing it right now. You can't pass legislation, you can't settle on a speaker. The most you guys have gotten done is one 'Beetlejuice' h****** and even that wasn't to compilation," he continued, referring to Rep. Lauren Boebert's embarrassing Colorado theater debacle.
"They impeached Alejandro Mayorkas. I guess House Republicans think they can solve the border crisis by removing one Latino at a time," he added. "So congratulations to House Speaker Mike Johnson for finally getting something passed."
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"After months of hard work, the House has finally impeached Secretary Mayorkas for his dereliction of duty and inviting the invasion of America. To the Senate: the American people demand you uphold your oath and hold a trial and remove Mayorkas for breaking federal law." —Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene on X
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"The House of Representatives just impeached Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for willfully refusing to comply with federal immigration laws, lying to Congress, and violating his oath of office. We won't stand idly by as Biden exacerbates this crisis." —House Majority Leader Steve Scalise
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"Republicans have no record of accomplishment to run on. Nothing on education. Nothing on health care or the environment. Nothing about creating jobs. Nothing about keeping people safe. So they're putting on a circus. That's what impeaching Secretary Mayorkas is about." —Rep. Joaquin Castro
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"We've got a trial to conduct." —Senator Mike Lee
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Conservative pundit and author Ann Coulter took to X to post several messages about Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas' impeachment by the House.
"Unless, like the House GOPs who voted against Mayorkas's impeachment, you are stupid (what they want us to think) or are involved in a humiliating sex scandal (what we really think), MAKE SENATE DEMS VOTE ON MAYORKAS'S IMPEACHMENT, @LeaderMcConnell," she wrote.
"Do Democrats' side with Biden on flinging open the border and destroying our cities and towns? MAKE THEM VOTE ON MAYORKAS'S IMPEACHMENT, @LeaderMcConnell," she further wrote.
"Contrary to the @nytimes allegation that the Senate can merely 'dismiss' Mayorkas's impeachment, both the senate rules and the EMINENT prof Larry Tribe say THERE HAS TO BE A TRIAL. MAKE DEMOCRATS VOTE! MAKE THEM VOTE ON MAYORKAS, @LeaderMcConnell!" Coulter continued.
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"To all families who have lost a loved one due to Joe Biden's man-made border crisis, we have answered the call: Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas has been IMPEACHED. House Republicans stand with the American people to ensure everything that can be done, will be done to SECURE OUR NATION." –Rep. Byron Donalds on X
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"We voted to impeach Sec. Mayorkas. He lied under oath. Our border is not secure." —Rep. Tim Burchett
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"I just voted to IMPEACH Secretary Mayorkas on behalf of the Border Patrol agents, National Guardsmen, and law enforcement officers across this country who are on the front lines against the cartels because Biden and Mayorkas opened our southern border." –Rep. Mary Miller
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"We have impeached Alejandro Mayorkas for failing the American people and putting our country at risk. Now it's time for the Senate to do the right thing." —Rep. Anna Paulina Luna
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"The House has impeached Secretary Mayorkas for his gross misconduct. Proud to stand for accountability and justice. Now, let's hold Biden himself accountable." —Rep. Eric Burlison
