House Republicans are pushing forward with an impeachment resolution against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, with plans to send it to the Senate next week. Senate Republicans had requested a delay in order to build a stronger case against Mayorkas over his handling of border security issues. However, Mayorkas is unlikely to lose his job in the Democratic-controlled Senate, as a two-thirds majority is required for conviction.
The House narrowly impeached Mayorkas in February, with three Republicans joining Democrats in the 214-213 vote. Mayorkas, the first sitting cabinet secretary to be impeached, has faced criticism from Republicans for failing to comply with federal law related to detaining undocumented immigrants and for a lack of operational control of the southern border. Senate Republicans are now calling for his impeachment trial to begin.
Far-right Republicans have been leading the charge against Mayorkas over the Biden Administration’s handling of the surge in migrant crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border. Despite a previous failed attempt in the House, where a tie vote prevented the resolution from advancing to the Senate, House Republicans are determined to reintroduce the impeachment resolution to hold Mayorkas accountable.
Senate Democrats have been critical of the impeachment articles against Mayorkas, with Majority Leader Chuck Schumer calling the impeachment “absurd” and stating that impeachment should not be used to settle policy disagreements. While Republicans argue that Mayorkas must be held accountable for the border crisis that they claim is bringing harmful elements into American neighborhoods, Democrats are resisting the push for impeachment in the Senate.
With tensions high between Republicans and Democrats over Mayorkas’ impeachment, the resolution is expected to move to the Senate next week for further deliberation. While Senate Republicans are eager to push for a trial to oust Mayorkas from his position, the likelihood of his conviction remains uncertain in a Senate where Democrats hold the majority. Despite the challenges ahead, the future of Mayorkas’s tenure as Homeland Security Secretary hangs in the balance as both parties continue to debate his fate.
