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In a historic move, the US House of Representatives has narrowly voted to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, marking the first instance of a cabinet member facing impeachment in nearly 150 years.
The highly contentious vote, with a 214 to 213 outcome, underscores the deep political divides surrounding allegations of Mayorkas’ role in the unprecedented influx of migrants at the US-Mexico border.
Republicans, holding Mayorkas responsible for the surge in border crossings, led the impeachment effort in the Republican-led chamber.
The vote, largely split along party lines, now advances to the Democratic-led Senate, where its success is deemed unlikely.
President Joe Biden condemned the House vote, describing it as a “blatant act of unconstitutional partisanship” and dismissing it as a “political stunt.”
The President defended Mayorkas as an “honourable public servant” who has faithfully upheld the rule of law.
The vote saw 210 Democrats, along with three Republican representatives, rejecting the impeachment.
The three Republican defectors, Tom McClintock of California, Ken Buck of Colorado, and Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin, reiterated their stance from the earlier failed attempt, asserting that impeaching Mayorkas without serious criminal charges would weaken constitutional penalties and not address the border crisis.
Mayorkas, a Cuban immigrant and a key figure in law enforcement and public service for over two decades, faced accusations of failing to fulfill his duties to secure the US border.
The Department of Homeland Security criticized the vote, with spokesperson Mia Ehrenberg accusing Republicans of prioritizing constitutional trampling over addressing border challenges.
The impeachment effort, driven by House Republicans who vowed to impeach Mayorkas since gaining control in 2022, has broader implications.
Threats of impeachment extend to other top Biden administration officials, including Vice-President Kamala Harris and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin.
Republicans charged Mayorkas during January hearings with failing to enforce immigration policies and providing false information about border security.
The impeachment attempt faced a narrow failure previously, but the return of House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, who was undergoing cancer treatment, provided the narrow margin needed for the recent vote.
Impeachment, outlined in the US Constitution, initiates the process of removing a federal official for high crimes or misdemeanours.
While the Senate trial looms, the impeachment effort is expected to face challenges, given the Democrats’ narrow control.
The last cabinet secretary to be impeached was Secretary of War William Belknap in 1876.
The historic impeachment reflects rising public concern over US immigration policies and the administration’s handling of the border crisis.
A January poll indicates widespread perception of the border situation as a crisis, with demands for tougher policies, shaping the debate on immigration management in the lead-up to the November elections.
