US House of Representatives votes to impeach Secretary of Homeland Security

Reuters reported that the Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives voted to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, accusing him of failing to control the flow of migrants crossing the border illegally with Mexico.

US Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. (Photo: Getty Images)

The proposal to bring impeachment charges against Mayorkas was passed after a close vote of 214-213 on February 13 (local time).

According to RT , in the 22-page proposal, lawmakers accuse Mayorkas of refusing to comply with federal court rulings regarding the border crisis, saying he is responsible for the massive surge at the southern border.

The filing also accused the official of "dishonesty" before Parliament , stating that Mayorkas had "proven himself to remain a threat to national security and borders by acting in a manner completely inconsistent with his duties and the rule of law."

The proposal states: “Throughout his tenure as Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro N. Mayorkas repeatedly violated laws enacted by Congress relating to immigration and border security. Primarily due to his unlawful conduct, millions of foreign nationals entered the United States illegally each year, and many remained in the United States unlawfully.”

The vote marks the second time in American history, and the first time since 1876, that the House of Representatives has impeached a member of the U.S. President's Cabinet.

Mayorkas was "safe" after last week's impeachment attempt in a close 214-216 vote, in which four Republican members sided with the Democrats.

Both the Democratic Party and the US Department of Homeland Security oppose this move.

California Congressman Tom McClintock said the charges against Mayorkas “distort the Constitution.” He also predicted the proposals would face “rejection” in the Senate, which has the task of convicting or acquitting the head of the Department of Homeland Security.

Homeland Security spokeswoman Mia Ehrenberg said House Republicans would “be remembered in history for trampling on the Constitution for political gain instead of working to address the serious challenges at the border.”

A record number of migrants have crossed the border illegally from Mexico since Biden took office in 2021, and former President Donald Trump has made this a major focus of his campaign against Biden.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll last month showed immigration was voters' second-highest concern, after the economy .

Lawmakers have spent months debating additional funding for border security amid a historic wave of migrants. Republicans insist that money must be allocated to the border crisis before they agree to a multi-billion dollar military aid package for Ukraine.

Hoa Vu (Source: Reuters, RT)

Source