Mayorkas Resigns

Mayorkas Impeached, Marking First Cabinet Removal in Nearly 150 Years

Historic Impeachment

In a historic move, the U.S. House of Representatives voted on Tuesday to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. The vote, which fell largely along party lines, marks the first time a Cabinet official has been impeached in nearly 150 years.

Background and Allegations

The impeachment proceedings against Mayorkas began in the House Judiciary Committee, which voted to approve several articles of impeachment against him in January 2024. The articles allege that Mayorkas has failed to secure the U.S.-Mexico border, violated the Constitution by implementing COVID-19 travel restrictions, and engaged in other forms of misconduct.

Mayorkas, a Cuban immigrant who grew up in California, has previously defended his actions and denied any wrongdoing. However, the Republican-controlled House has maintained that he has violated his oath of office and should be removed from his position.

Impeachment Vote

The impeachment vote in the House was a dramatic moment in American history. The vote was largely partisan, with Republicans overwhelmingly supporting impeachment and Democrats largely opposing it. In the end, the vote passed by a margin of 230-197.

Next Steps

Now that Mayorkas has been impeached, the case will be sent to the Senate for trial. The Senate will have the sole authority to determine whether or not to remove Mayorkas from office. The trial is expected to begin in the coming weeks and could last for several weeks or even months. If Mayorkas is convicted by the Senate, he will be the first Cabinet official to be removed from office since William Belknap, the Secretary of War, who was impeached in 1876 but resigned just minutes before the scheduled vote.