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House Republicans narrowly voted to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas over his handling of the border, exactly one week after their first attempt to impeach him. The articles of impeachment against Mayorkas passed on Tuesday 214-213, with the majority made up of only Republicans and three Republicans voting with Democrats against impeachment. The Republican-led House claimed that Mayorkas failed to enforce border laws amid a “crisis” of high illegal immigration, allegations he denies as “baseless.”
Mayorkas is just the second Cabinet secretary in U.S. history to be impeached — and the first in nearly 150 years. Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said in a statement: “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. 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. Since this Secretary refuses to do the job that the Senate confirmed him to do, the House must act … [He] deserves to be impeached, and Congress has a constitutional obligation to do so. Next to a declaration of war, impeachment is arguably the most serious authority given to the House and we have treated this matter accordingly.”
Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Mia Ehrenberg said in a statement that “without a shred of evidence or legitimate Constitutional grounds, and despite bipartisan opposition, House Republicans have falsely smeared a dedicated public servant who has spent more than 20 years enforcing our laws and serving our country. Secretary Mayorkas and the Department of Homeland Security will continue working every day to keep Americans safe.”
President Joe Biden harshly criticized House Republicans after the vote for impeachment, saying: “History will not look kindly on House Republicans for their blatant act of unconstitutional partisanship that has targeted an honorable public servant in order to play petty political games.”
Mayorkas will now face a trial in the Democratic-controlled Senate, where a two-thirds majority vote – or 67 senators – will be needed to convict and remove him from office, which is very unlikely. The Senate is out of session, and the soonest it would take up the matter of impeachment would be after lawmakers return to Washington on Feb. 26.
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