The Republican-led House Rules Committee has voted 8-4 to send an impeachment case against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to the full chamber for a vote. If the vote goes through, Mayorkas would become the first Cabinet official to be impeached in nearly 150 years.
The impeachment articles charge that Mayorkas has “willfully and systematically refused to comply with Federal immigration laws” by repeatedly violating laws enacted by Congress regarding immigration and border security during his tenure. Specifically, Mayorkas is accused of “refusing to comply with Federal immigration laws” amidst a record surge of migrants at the southern border and breaching the public trust in his claims to Congress that the U.S.-Mexico border is secure.
Mayorkas and his supporters argue that the situation at the border is a global phenomenon and that the U.S. immigration system requires more resources and legislation to effectively address the challenge. He dismisses the Republican charges against him as “politically motivated and completely baseless,” citing constitutional scholars who have provided similar assessments.
The House could vote on the impeachment articles as early as Tuesday, given the slim Republican majority. If the articles pass in the House, a trial in the Senate is likely to follow. Mayorkas has stated that he is prepared to defend himself in a Senate trial.
Critics of Mayorkas argue that his impeachment is necessary to hold him accountable for his alleged violations of immigration laws and breach of public trust. Supporters of Mayorkas, on the other hand, believe that the impeachment is politically motivated and lacks merit.
If the impeachment articles are successfully passed, it would mark a significant development in the ongoing debate surrounding immigration and border security policies in the United States. Mayorkas’s impeachment would also have far-reaching implications for the Biden administration’s approach to immigration enforcement.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Author: Bradford Betz, Digital Breaking Reporter covering crime, political issues, and more.
