Biden's Homeland security chief Alejandro Mayorkas impeached in Republican-majority House

The Republican-majority US House of Representatives on Tuesday (Feb 13) impeached Homeland Security Chief Alejandro Mayorkas. TheGOP-majority Housevoted 214 to 213 for the measureafter an earlier attempt failed last week.

The Republican lawmakers passed two articles, accusing Mayorkas of"willful and systemic refusal" to enforce immigration law and "breach of public trust" -making him the first cabinet member to be impeached in nearly 150 years.

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.

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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.

Prior to Mayorkas, the only cabinet official to have been impeached was Secretary of War William Belknap, who resigned in 1876 from President Ulysses S. Grant’s administration hours before the House formally charged him with corruption.

Akin toBelknap, who was acquitted by the Senate, Mayorkas is also expected to face a similar outcome as the Democrats control the other chamber.

Mayorkas' previous narrow escape

Last week, Mayorkas managed to narrowly avoid an exit following a214-216 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.

However, during Tuesday's proceedings, the return of Republican House Majority Leader Steve Scalise tipped the scales in favour of the GOP.

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Border crisis

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.

(With inputs from agencies)