In a tight vote, the U.S. House of Representatives impeached Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Tuesday night.
The move, led by Republican members, accuses Mayorkas of failing to address the surge of illegal migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border.
The impeachment vote, with a slim margin of 214-213, marks a significant escalation in the ongoing political battle over immigration policy. Mayorkas becomes only the second Cabinet member in U.S. history to face impeachment.
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While the impeachment is seen as a symbolic victory for Republican critics, it is expected to face a different fate in the Democratic-controlled Senate. With a slim 51-49 majority, the Senate is likely to acquit Mayorkas, requiring a two-thirds vote for a conviction.
The accusations against Mayorkas center on claims that he violated immigration laws by not detaining migrants at the border and implementing a humanitarian parole program. Republicans have also accused him of misleading Congress about the security of the border.
The debate over Mayorkas’s impeachment has sparked a broader discussion about immigration policy and border security. Democrats argue that the impeachment is driven more by political motives than legitimate concerns about Mayorkas’s conduct.
Representative Mark Green, chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, stated, “Secretary Mayorkas has willfully and systemically refused to comply with the laws of the United States and breached the public trust.”
However, Representative Bennie G. Thompson, the committee’s top Democrat, countered, “This baseless impeachment will do nothing to secure the border… Instead of providing the Department of Homeland Security the resources it needs or working together towards a bipartisan solution, they have rejected any solution for the sole reason that they can have a political wedge issue in an election year.”
The impeachment of Mayorkas reflects broader disagreements between Republicans and Democrats over immigration policy. Republicans have criticized President Joe Biden’s administration for easing border restrictions implemented under former President Donald Trump.
As the November elections approach, immigration controls are poised to remain a prominent issue, with both parties likely to use it to rally their bases and gain political advantage.
The Senate’s decision on whether to convict Mayorkas will shape the future of U.S. immigration policy and determine the extent of political fallout for both parties.