In a historic move, the House of Representatives has narrowly voted to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, marking the first impeachment of a cabinet member in nearly 150 years. The contentious decision, fueled by Republicans, places Mayorkas at the center of blame for an unprecedented surge in migrants at the US-Mexico border.
The closely divided chamber voted 214 to 213 in favor of the impeachment, following a failed attempt last week. The matter now advances to the Democratic-led Senate, where its success is doubtful. President Joe Biden denounced the vote, labeling it a "blatant act of unconstitutional partisanship" and dismissing it as a "political stunt."
Critics of Mayorkas assert that he has failed to fulfill his oath to "well and faithfully discharge the duties" of his office, particularly in securing the border. The vote displayed a clear partisan divide, with 210 Democrats opposing impeachment, joined by three Republicans: Tom McClintock of California, Ken Buck of Colorado, and Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin.
These Republicans, who also voted against the initial impeachment attempt, argued that impeaching without a serious crime weakens the constitutional penalty and does little to address the border crisis. The surge in illegal entries, with over 6.3 million since 2021, has intensified immigration as a contentious issue in the lead-up to the November election, becoming a focal point of Donald Trump's campaign against President Biden.
In defense of Mayorkas, President Biden issued a statement praising him as "an honorable public servant" who has faithfully upheld the rule of law. Mia Ehrenberg, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, accused Republicans of prioritizing "trampling on the constitution" over addressing border challenges.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, staunchly supported Mayorkas' impeachment, emphasizing that he "deserves to be impeached." During two January hearings, Republicans charged Mayorkas with failing to enforce immigration policies and providing false information about border security.
The unexpected votes of Democrat Al Green and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, who overcame health challenges, played pivotal roles in securing the majority needed for impeachment. The process, outlined in the US Constitution, initiates the removal of a federal official for high crimes or misdemeanors, requiring a simple majority in the House and a subsequent Senate trial with a two-thirds majority for conviction.
Despite the historic nature of the impeachment, its success is doubtful, given the Democrats' narrow control of the Senate. The House is scheduled to present the impeachment articles to the Senate on February 26. The last cabinet secretary to face impeachment was Secretary of War William Belknap in 1876, who resigned shortly before the vote.
A CBS poll conducted in January, the BBC's US partner, revealed that almost half of Americans perceive the border situation as a crisis, with 63% advocating for "tougher" border policies. On Tuesday, the US Customs and Border Protection agency reported a 50% reduction in border crossings in January, attributing the decline to seasonal trends and enhanced enforcement efforts.
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