The House will send impeachment articles against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to the Senate on April 10, as announced by Speaker Mike Johnson. The letter to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer urged for an expeditious trial. Mayorkas was impeached by the GOP-controlled House on Feb. 13 for violating immigration laws and lying about the situation at the U.S.-Mexico border. The Democratic-controlled Senate is expected to acquit Mayorkas, but a trial will still be held as required by the Constitution.

The House Republicans, including the 11 impeachment managers, accuse Mayorkas of releasing millions of illegal aliens into the interior and creating unlawful mass-parole programs. The lawmakers also claimed that he lied to Congress and the public about the crisis at the border. The DHS spokesperson defended Mayorkas, stating that he was working on bipartisan solutions to strengthen border security and get needed resources for enforcement. The spokesperson denounced the impeachment as baseless and unconstitutional.

President Joe Biden criticized House Republicans for targeting a “honorable public servant” in an act of “unconstitutional partisanship.” The 11 GOP impeachment managers include key figures such as Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green, Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, and controversial Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. Greene recently filed a motion to oust Speaker Johnson, citing dissatisfaction with his leadership and negotiations with Democrats on key bills. The future actions of the House regarding Greene’s motion remain uncertain.

The Senate is expected to swiftly dismiss the impeachment articles or refer the trial to a special committee due to the lack of Republican support for conviction. Mayorkas, who has served as DHS Secretary since the start of the Biden administration, is unlikely to be convicted by the Senate, given the two-thirds majority needed for conviction. Senate President Pro Tempore Patty Murray will preside over the trial proceedings as senators are sworn in as jurors on April 11.

The accusations against Mayorkas stem from his alleged willful and systemic refusal to comply with the law and his breach of public trust. The decision to impeach Mayorkas makes him the second Cabinet member to be impeached in U.S. history after William Belknap. The House Republicans emphasized the need for a secure border, an end to the crisis, and accountability for those responsible for the immigration situation. While the trial will proceed, the outcome is likely to favor Mayorkas, reflecting the partisan divide in Congress over immigration policy and border security.

The impeachment of Mayorkas has sparked controversy and heightened tensions between the House Republicans and Democrats. Both parties are pushing their narratives on border security, accountability, and political motivations behind the impeachment. Despite the expected acquittal of Mayorkas by the Senate, the trial will proceed as per constitutional requirements, with the House Republicans standing by their decision to seek accountability for what they view as misconduct by the DHS Secretary.

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