The Democratic-controlled U.S. Senate swiftly shut down efforts to impeach President Joe Biden’s top border official on Wednesday. The charges, brought forth by House Republicans months ago, alleged that Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas failed to uphold U.S. border laws and misled Congress amid a surge in illegal immigration since Biden’s inauguration in 2021.
In a series of partisan votes, the Senate dismissed these charges, which accused Mayorkas of negligence and dishonesty in handling the border situation.
This issue has been a focal point for Biden’s Republican opponent in the upcoming elections, Donald Trump, who has emphasized immigration as a key campaign issue. Recent polling by Reuters/Ipsos confirms that immigration remains a top concern among voters, especially for Republicans.
Mayorkas firmly denied any wrongdoing, and both the White House and congressional Democrats criticized the impeachment attempt as an abuse of power, arguing that it was fueled by political agendas rather than genuine legal concerns.
White House spokesperson Ian Sams applauded the Senate’s decision, labeling the impeachment as baseless and unconstitutional. He criticized House Republicans for prioritizing political theatrics over meaningful bipartisan efforts to enhance border security.
Earlier this year, Trump played a role in thwarting a bipartisan Senate agreement aimed at implementing stricter immigration policies.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, along with other leading Republicans, condemned Senate Democrats for endorsing what they perceive as the Biden administration’s lax approach to border security.
The U.S. Border Patrol’s internal data revealed over 1 million apprehensions of migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border illegally in the past six months, a rate reminiscent of the record highs observed during Biden’s initial years in office.
Mayorkas, a 64-year-old former federal prosecutor born in Cuba, attributed the surge in border crossings to Congress’ failure to update outdated immigration laws.
The House’s impeachment efforts against Mayorkas faced significant challenges, including a narrow initial vote and subsequent procedural hurdles.
Despite objections from Republican senators who called for a full trial, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer engineered a resolution that prevented Mayorkas from facing removal from his Cabinet position.
Senate Republicans, led by Mitch McConnell, expressed dissatisfaction with the decision, advocating for a thorough examination of the charges against Mayorkas. However, the Senate ultimately opted to dispose of the case without a trial, marking only the second impeachment of a member of a president’s cabinet in U.S. history.