By Lisa Mascaro and Rebecca Santana -
The Associated Press
Republicans in the House of Representatives approved on Tuesday night to initiate an impeachment trial of the Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, whom they accuse of
"intentionally and systematically" refusing
to apply immigration laws, in a context in which security The border has become a relevant issue heading into the 2024 elections.
The debate in the National Security Commission lasted all day and part of the night, until recommending two counts of impeachment against Mayorkas, a rare accusation against a cabinet member who has not been seen in almost 150 years, while the Republicans assume as their own the harsh anti-immigration stance of Donald Trump, who is emerging as the favorite to obtain his party's presidential nomination.
All Republicans on the committee voted in favor, while Democrats were united against it.
“We cannot allow this man to remain in office any longer,” said commission Chairman Mark Green.
The charges allege that Mayorkas “refused to comply with federal immigration laws” amid a historic surge of migrants at the U.S. southern border and
has “broken the public trust”
with his claims to Congress that the border is secure.
The entire Lower House could vote on the Mayorkas trial starting next week.
If approved, the charges would be referred to the Senate for a trial, although senators could first form a special committee to study the case.
In an unusual personal request, Mayorkas — immersed in negotiations with the Senate on a border security package — wrote a letter to the committee in which he noted that he should be working closely with President Joe Biden's administration to update the “
discontinuous and obsolete” immigration laws for the 21st century and an era of
unprecedented global migration.
“We need a legislative solution and only Congress can provide it,” Mayorkas wrote in his letter to the committee chairman.