US House to send homeland security chief impeachment to Senate
- Republicans blame Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for record flows of migrants across the US-Mexico border
- Mayorkas, part of Biden’s cabinet, has said he is not responsible for the border situation, blaming the issue on a broken immigration system
The Republican-controlled US House of Representatives will deliver two articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to the Senate on April 10, House Speaker Mike Johnson said on Thursday.
Mayorkas, who Republicans blame for record flows of migrants across the US-Mexico border, was narrowly impeached by the House last month on allegations that he has not enforced US immigration laws and has made false statements to Congress.
Mayorkas, part of Democratic President Joe Biden’s cabinet, has said he does not bear responsibility for the border situation, blaming it instead on a broken US immigration system that Congress has not been able to fix.
“We will present to you upon the Senate’s return, on April 10, 2024, the duly passed articles of impeachment,” Johnson and 11 Republican impeachment managers informed Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer in a letter on Thursday.
Republicans impeach US homeland security chief over border crisis
The House and Senate are currently on a two-week recess.
“We urge you to schedule a trial of the matter expeditiously,” they wrote.
Federal officials, including presidents, who are impeached by the House, are subject to a trial in the Senate to determine whether they should be removed from office.
Schumer’s office issued a statement saying that senators will be sworn in as trial jurors the day after the articles are delivered.
However, the Democratic-led chamber is highly unlikely to vote to remove Mayorkas from office.
The House voted twice before impeaching Mayorkas on a vote of 214-213, after an initial vote failed. Democrats and a handful of Republicans opposed the action.
