The U.S. House of Representatives has approved articles of impeachment against Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), alleging that his policies have led to the ongoing crisis at the southern border. The decision, largely along party lines, passed by a slim margin of 214–213, with three Republicans dissenting.
Republican Representatives Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin, Tom McClintock of California, and Ken Buck of Colorado voted against the motion. Post-vote, Rep. Troy Nehls from Texas, in a conversation with The Epoch Times, expressed that the impeachment was long overdue and a beautiful thing. Similarly, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene from Georgia, who has been vocal about her support for impeachment, expressed her satisfaction over the outcome on the Capitol steps.
Greene said, “Well, it’s definitely a historic day, impeaching Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. I’m very thankful to our Republican conference for finally working together and standing with the American people to send the message to the Biden administration that it’s our border that matters, not other country’s borders; our border matters.”
The impeachment will now move to the Senate for further deliberation. However, the Senate, currently controlled by Democrats who unanimously opposed the House measure, is expected to acquit Mayorkas, if the charges are considered at all.
Impeachment, a key prerogative of Congress, is deeply ingrained in the U.S. Constitution. Following an impeachment by the House, the accused faces trial in the Senate, where a supermajority is required to agree that a removable offense has been committed in order to remove an executive or judicial officer from their post.
Should the Senate decide to proceed with the trial, the allegations against Mayorkas would be thoroughly debated. If two-thirds of the Senate agrees that Mayorkas committed a removable offense, he would be removed from office.
The last impeachment of a presidential cabinet member dates back to the 1870s. However, the articles of impeachment never reached the Senate for trial as the accused resigned. This was also the case with former President Richard Nixon, who chose to resign rather than face possible removal from office by the Senate. Former Presidents Bill Clinton and Donald Trump faced Senate trials but were both acquitted.
In the event of a Senate trial for Mayorkas, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene would be among the House’s impeachment managers. If Mayorkas faces a formal trial in the Senate, he is likely to be acquitted due to universal Democratic opposition to his removal. There are several procedural methods that could be employed to reach this outcome.
However, Democrats might be hesitant to appear indifferent to the border issue, given its importance to voters. They could raise a point of order against the charges or move the motion to a committee for consideration, which would maintain the appearance of seriousness while avoiding a high-profile trial on the Senate floor. Regardless of the method chosen, it’s probable that Democrats will aim to dismiss the matter discreetly. Should a trial occur, it’s almost certain to result in Mayorkas’ acquittal.
