Amidst their criticism of the bipartisan Senate immigration deal, House Republicans are poised to vote on a resolution to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
The resolution accuses Mayorkas of neglecting to enforce immigration laws and secure the southern border. If the resolution succeeds, it would mark the second impeachment of a Cabinet secretary in U.S. history, the first occurring almost 150 years ago.
Should the House vote in favor, the matter would advance to the Senate, where a two-thirds majority is required for conviction. Given the Democratic majority in the Senate, achieving this threshold is unlikely.
DHS Secretary, Alejandro Mayorkas (Credits: The Hill)
The decision to bring the resolution to the House floor suggests that GOP leaders believe they have sufficient support for Mayorkas’s impeachment.
Majority Whip Tom Emmer expressed confidence in reaching a goal of 218 Republican votes. Emmer highlighted the perceived issue, stating, “The secretary has willfully refused to do his job securing the southern border.”
However, the Republicans’ majority is expected to be precarious, given their slim 219-212 advantage. The party can afford to lose only two votes, assuming all members are present and voting, and Democrats uniformly oppose the resolution, as anticipated.
The outcome of this vote carries significant implications for the ongoing debate surrounding immigration policies and the handling of border security.
