House clears way to advance impeachment articles of DHS Secretary Mayorkas

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Lawmakers attempt to impeach Secretary Mayorkas over border crisis

Fox News senior congressional correspondent Chad Pergram has the latest on the markup of impeachment articles on 'Your World.'

House lawmakers on Tuesday cleared the way to advance an impeachment resolution against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

The 216-209 floor vote came as the Republican-controlled House adopted the "rule" to manage the debate on the measure. The House then began debating two impeachment articles against the secretary. 

"Secretary Mayorkas took an oath to protect our nation from all enemies, both foreign and domestic," said Rep. McCaul, R-Texas. "By refusing to enforce our nation’s laws, he has violated that oath — and every Texan knows it. An architect of destruction at our southern border, the secretary has caused serious injury to society, as the Founding Fathers discussed. I’m honored the speaker has given me this opportunity to use my experience as a federal prosecutor to stand up for our Constitution and the safety of the American people."

The resolution affirms that Mayorkas, "has willfully and systematically refused to comply with Federal immigration laws" by having repeatedly violated laws enacted by Congress regarding immigration and border security during his tenure. 

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July 26, 2023: DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas testifies to the House Judiciary Committee. (Screenshot)

"I don’t believe there’s ever been a Cabinet secretary who so blatantly, openly, willfully and without remorse did the exact opposite of what federal law asked him to do,"House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters Tuesday. 

If the vote goes through, Mayorkas would be the first Biden Cabinet official impeached in nearly 150 years. 

The impeachment articles state Mayorkas has "refused to comply with Federal immigration laws" amid a record surge of migrants at the southern border and that he has "breached the public trust" in his claims to Congress that the U.S.-Mexico border is secure. 

Mayorkas has called the impeachment effort politically motivated and baseless. 

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Last week, the House approved two impeachment articles along party lines. Republicans pointed to the high number of border crossings and mass release of migrants into the United States interior.

Democrats have said the attempted impeachment is based purely on political motivations and policy disputes. 

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"What does the sham Republican impeachment effort have to do with addressing the challenges at our border? Absolutely nothing," Minority Leader Hakeen Jeffries, D-New York, posted Tuesday on X. 

Fox News Digital has reached out to DHS. 

Fox News Digital's Adam Shaw contributed to this report.