Washington, D.C. – The Senate swiftly dismissed the articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Wednesday, marking the premature end of a trial that had barely begun. The articles, which accused Mayorkas of “willful and systemic refusal to comply with the law” and “breach of public trust,” failed to gain traction as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer attempted to navigate the proceedings. Despite efforts to reach a bipartisan agreement on trial resolutions, Republicans objected to what they saw as an unprecedented move to dismiss an impeachment case without a full trial.
Schumer’s motion to table the first impeachment article, citing a lack of conduct rising to the level of high crimes or misdemeanors, quickly gained support after several procedural votes, leading to a 51-48 decision in favor of killing the first article. Subsequent procedural votes also led to the approval of Schumer’s motion to table the second article, effectively ending the impeachment process against Mayorkas, who became the first Cabinet secretary to face impeachment in nearly 150 years.
House Republicans had initiated the impeachment process in February, citing Mayorkas’s handling of the southern border as grounds for removal. However, many constitutional experts noted that the evidence presented fell short of the high standard required for impeachment under the U.S. Constitution. Democrats criticized the impeachment as a political maneuver, emphasizing that policy disagreements should not be used as justification for such a rare constitutional measure against a Cabinet official.
As the Senate deliberated, Republicans and Democrats grappled with the implications of dismissing or tabling the articles, with some facing pressure over their decisions. Vulnerable Democratic Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania announced his intention to vote to dismiss, calling the impeachment a “partisan exercise” and emphasizing the need to focus on bipartisan border security efforts. Meanwhile, Democratic Sen. Jon Tester of Montana remained undecided, highlighting the importance of thoroughly reviewing the articles before making a decision.
The White House, along with Homeland Security officials, denounced the impeachment effort as baseless and politically motivated, engaging in a split-screen strategy to counter GOP attacks while pushing for a bipartisan border deal. Despite these efforts, Senate Republicans blocked the proposed bipartisan border deal earlier this year, underscoring ongoing challenges in reaching consensus on immigration policy and border security measures.
The Senate’s swift dismissal of the articles of impeachment against Mayorkas marks the conclusion of a contentious chapter in the ongoing debate over border security and the role of Cabinet officials in shaping immigration policy. While the trial did not proceed as anticipated, the underlying issues at the heart of the impeachment underscore the deep partisan divides that continue to shape policymaking in Washington, D.C.