The Republican-majority US House of Representatives on Tuesday (Feb 13) impeached Homeland security chief Alejandro Mayorkas, making him the first cabinet member to face impeachment in nearly 150 years.
The GOP-majority House voted 214 to 213 for the measure, after an earlier attempt failed last week. US President Joe Biden’s immigration chief had been facing the music for a long time after Republicans blamed him for the surge in migrants illegally crossing the southern border.
Immediately after Mayorkas’ impeachment, Biden released a statement stating the move by the House was a “blatant” example of partisan politics that violated the Constitution.
“History will not look kindly on House Republicans for their blatant act of unconstitutional partisanship that has targeted an honourable public servant in order to play petty political games,” said Biden.
Mayorkas’ previous narrow escape
Last week, Mayorkas managed to narrowly avoid an exit following a 214-216 vote which marked a blow for Speaker Mike Johnson and other GOP lawmakers. The dramatic vote finished with a 215-215 tie after a Republican member changed his vote so that the House could bring up the impeachment issue once again.
Notably, Colorado Rep. Ken Buck, Wisconsin Rep. Mike Gallagher and California Rep. Tom McClintock were the three Republicans who halted Mayorkas’ exit after Mark Green, who presides over the Homeland Security Committee, sent the impeachment articles.
The Republicans have repeatedly attacked the Democrats by pointing to the statistics which show that migrant encounters reached a record high of 302,000 in December alone at the southern border. Mayorkas has been held responsible for the alarming situation as more and more undocumented immigrants enter American cities.
A Harvard-Harris survey conducted earlier this month showed that immigration was now an important concern for voters, with 35 per cent of respondents citing the issue as their top priority.
