The United States House of Representatives on Tuesday, February 13th, narrowly voted to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, marking the first impeachment of a cabinet member in nearly 150 years.
Many Republicans attribute the unprecedented influx of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border to Mayorkas.
The Republican-led chamber approved the measure with a vote of 214 to 213, following a failed attempt last week.
The issue will now proceed to the Democratic-controlled Senate, where it is expected to be unsuccessful.
President Joe Biden criticized the vote on Tuesday as a “blatant act of unconstitutional partisanship” and a “political stunt.”
Biden said, “He has upheld the rule of law faithfully and has demonstrated a deep commitment to the values that make our nation great.”
However, House Speaker Mike Johnson accused Mayorkas of failing to uphold his oath and not doing enough to secure the border.
Johnson, in a statement, said, “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. 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.”
He added, “Alejandro Mayorkas 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. Since this secretary refuses to do the job that the Senate confirmed him to do, the House must act.”
Critics of the impeachment, including Mia Ehrenberg, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), have dismissed the charges as baseless. “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,” Ehrenberg stated.
The impeachment vote follows a previously unsuccessful attempt and was made possible this time around by the return of Louisiana House Majority Leader Representative Steve Scalise after a hiatus for medical treatment.
This move by the House Republicans demonstrates a commitment to their base to prioritize border security and immigration as key issues, especially as the 2024 election approaches.
The case now moves to the Senate, controlled by Democrats, where it is anticipated that the charges will be dismissed, allowing Mayorkas to continue in his role.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized the House’s decision, labeling it as “a new low for House Republicans” and a “sham impeachment effort.”
He accused the House Republicans of seeking to please Donald Trump rather than addressing more pressing national concerns.
Some Republicans in the Senate have voiced apprehensions that Mayorkas’ conduct does not meet the threshold of “high crimes and misdemeanors” as outlined by the Constitution for impeachments, considering the precedent established by the House Republicans’ endeavor.
Since 2021, over 6.3 million migrants have entered the U.S. illegally, intensifying immigration as a divisive and politically contentious topic leading up to the November election.
This issue is a central focus of Former President Donald Trump’s campaign to remove Biden from office.
