Alejandro Mayorkas
Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas was impeached on Tuesday (13 February) night by the House of Representatives.
The Republican-majority House saw 214 Republicans vote in favor of impeaching Mayorkas, with 213 votes against, including that of three Republicans.
This was the second attempt of the House to impeach Mayorkas, as an earlier attempt last week failed with 214 in favor and 216 against.
Also Read: Mayorkas and the Rising Border Crisis: GOP Allegations Fuel Impeachment Drive
With this, Mayorkas has become the second Cabinet secretary in US history to be impeached. He now also hold the tag of being the first Cabinet secretary to be impeached in nearly 150 years.
The GOP lawmakers have targeted the Biden official over the ongoing migrant crisis at the US southern border, accusing him of deliberately flaunting existing immigration law and worsening the situation.
“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,” Speaker Mike Johnson said in a statement on Mayorkas’ impeachment.
“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,” Johnson continued.
Meanwhile, President Biden slammed House Republicans immediately after the vote.
“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,” Biden said.
“Instead of staging political stunts like this, Republicans with genuine concerns about the border should want Congress to deliver more border resources and stronger border security,” he added.
“Congress needs to act to give me, Secretary Mayorkas, and my administration the tools and resources needed to address the situation at the border,” Biden said.
“The House also needs to pass the Senate’s national security supplemental right away,” Biden added.
The matter will now head to the Senate, which almost certainly will vote to acquit Mayorkas given that two-thirds, or 67 senators, would be needed to convict and remove the secretary, whose Democratic Party controls the upper chamber.
Once the House impeachment managers transmit the articles to the Senate, it would be required to hold an impeachment trial.
The articles would likely be quickly dismissed or the trial will be sent to a special committee that would hear the evidence from the impeachment managers and report it to the full Senate.
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 26 February.
Also Read: Amid Border Crisis, Senate Passes Aid Package For Ukraine; Set For Showdown with the House
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