TL/DR –
House Republicans are making a second attempt to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas on charges of failing to enforce border laws. The charges against Mayorkas do not identify personal corruption, election interference, or other traditional impeachment offenses, but instead accuse him of making policy choices that constitute a constitutional crime, a move many critics, including Democrats, constitutional law experts and some Republicans, view as an improper use of impeachment. Regardless of the outcome in the House, the charges are unlikely to lead to a conviction in the Senate, where a two-thirds majority would be required.
House Republican’s Second Attempt to Impeach Homeland Security Secretary
House Republicans are gearing up for their second attempt to impeach Homeland Security Secretary, Alejandro N. Mayorkas, accusing him of willfully neglecting border laws. Their first bid was short of one vote for a majority. This deficit was due to the absence of Steve Scalise, Republican of Louisiana and the majority leader who was undergoing treatment for blood cancer.
Impeachment Charges Against Alejandro N. Mayorkas
The accusations leveled against Mr. Mayorkas differ from the historical norm, not citing personal corruption or election interference but instead condemning policy choices he has implemented. This approach could lower the bar for impeachments, transforming it from a tool to remove despots from power to a weapon for political battles. A wide array of experts, including Democrats, former homeland security secretaries, and police unions, have criticized this impeachment effort as an inappropriate resolution to a policy disagreement.
Backdrop of the Impeachment Vote
The vote to impeach Mr. Mayorkas is taking place within a broader Congressional tussle over border and national security. The Senate recently passed a national security spending package providing substantial aid to countries such as Ukraine and Israel. Mr. Mayorkas had played a role in negotiating a previous version of this legislation, which Senate Republicans later rejected.
Implications of the Impeachment Attempt
Critics argue that the attempt to impeach Mr. Mayorkas is simply a demonstration of loyalty by Republicans to former President Donald J. Trump, who has advocated for stricter immigration policies. Opponents of the impeachment argue that policies to manage the waves of migrants arriving at the border fall within Mr. Mayorkas’s rights, including allowing certain migrants into the country temporarily on humanitarian grounds and prioritizing which migrants to detain.
The Charges Against Alejandro N. Mayorkas
Mr. Mayorkas faces accusations of breaching public trust and obstructing congressional efforts to investigate him. Republicans assert that he misrepresented the state of the border and failed to produce requested documents during an investigation into his border policies. However, administration officials counter that Mr. Mayorkas has complied with the panel’s requests and offered to testify in person.
Historical Context of Impeachment Attempts
The only other cabinet secretary to have been impeached was William Belknap, Secretary of War under President Ulysses S. Grant. Critics argue that removing the secretary would not change the Biden administration’s border policies and would not equip officials with the resources needed to enforce immigration laws more effectively.
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