Baseless Effort to Impeach DHS Secretary Mayorkas Proves Extremist GOP Lawmakers Only Want Theatrics, Not Solutions, On Immigration

Today, lawmakers in the House will take up a vote to impeach Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Policy and constitutional experts say the charges are based on policy differences and cannot serve as a basis for impeachment.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, lawmakers in the House will take up a vote to impeach Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Policy and constitutional experts say the charges are based on policy differences and cannot serve as a basis for impeachment. The vote comes as the Senate will decide tomorrow whether to advance a supplemental funding package that pairs foreign aid with sweeping new immigration policies, despite the fact that House GOP leadership have labeled the bill “dead on arrival.

Immigration Hub Executive Director Kerri Talbot released the following statement:

“Today’s vote is just another example from House Republicans’ neverending list of stunts. Multiple legal scholars, even those to the right of the aisle, have dismissed this impeachment effort as baseless. Given that policy disagreements are not impeachable offenses, it is clear that GOP lawmakers are moving this vote forward for only one reason: to throw more red meat to their base.

“Rather than continuing this act of political theatre, House Republicans should focus on their actual job: passing laws that strengthen the immigration system and help long-settled immigrant communities in the U.S. Unfortunately, the last couple of days make clear that Republicans, under the thumb of Donald Trump, have no serious intentions of addressing the issue. Not as long as they can use it as an electoral wedge.

“Secretary Mayorkas will survive this stunt, which has no chance of advancing in the Senate, but immigrant communities and the nation’s immigration system cannot wait much longer. Democrats are ready to solve this issue, if only Republicans could be too.”

###

The Immigration Hub is a national organization dedicated to advancing fair and just immigration policies through strategic leadership, innovative communications strategies, legislative advocacy and collaborative partnerships.

Sign up for Highlights from the Hub

Keep up to date with the latest resources & reports from the Immigration Hub.

Topic(Required)