Republicans impeach US homeland security chief over border crisis
3 Min Read
Lawmakers pass two articles accusing Mayorkas of "willful and systemic refusal" to enforce immigration law and "breach of public trust."
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Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas speaks during a news conference about security for NFL's Super Bowl 58 football game, in Las Vegas, Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Republicans impeached US President Joe Biden's immigration chief on Tuesday, the culmination of months of attacks on the Democratic administration as they seek to make border security a key issue in November's election.
Conservatives in the House of Representatives, which is narrowly controlled by Republicans, blame Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for a surge in illegal entries from Mexico that they have called a "humanitarian catastrophe".
Lawmakers passed two articles accusing him of "willful and systemic refusal" to enforce immigration law and "breach of public trust" -- making him the first Cabinet secretary to be impeached in nearly 150 years.
It was Republican leaders' second swing at Mayorkas after a failed first impeachment effort last week due to wrongly anticipating how many lawmakers would be present on each side and losing by just one vote.
Tuesday's re-run was just as close, but the return of Republican House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, who had been receiving cancer treatment, swung the chamber the other way in a 214-213 vote.
"Next to a declaration of war, impeachment is arguably the most serious authority given to the House and we have treated this matter accordingly," said House Speaker Mike Johnson.
"Since this secretary refuses to do the job that the Senate confirmed him to do, the House must act."
Biden immediately rebuked Republicans for what he termed a "blatant act of unconstitutional partisanship that has targeted an honorable public servant in order to play petty political games."
"We will continue pursuing real solutions to the challenges Americans face, and House Republicans have to decide whether to join us to solve the problem or keep playing politics with the border," he stressed.
The outcome was unprecedented as the House has only ever impeached one other cabinet official -- Secretary of War William Belknap in 1876.
Seen as the political equivalent of an indictment, the rebuke is largely symbolic, however, as Mayorkas is certain to be acquitted at his trial in the Democratic-led Senate.
House Republicans have been accused of acting in bad faith in the impeachment, especially after coming out against a bipartisan deal passed in the upper chamber that would have imposed the toughest asylum and border policies in decades.
"House Republicans will be remembered by history for trampling on the Constitution for political gain rather than working to solve the serious challenges at our border," said Mia Ehrenberg, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
According to the US Constitution, impeachment is meant to be a sanction for treason, bribery and other "high crimes and misdemeanors."
The Senate is now compelled to at least open a trial, although it could vote to dismiss the articles, dissolve the trial, or refer the articles to a committee.
