WASHINGTON: Republicans impeached US President Joe Biden’s immigration chief on Tuesday, as they want to make border security a major issue in November election.
Conservatives in the House of Representatives, which is controlled by Republicans with a thin margin, accuse Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for an increase in illegal entries from Mexico.
Lawmakers accused him of willful and systemic refusal to implement immigration law and breach of public trust. He is the first Cabinet secretary to be impeached by the House in nearly 150 years.
Republican leaders’ last week had also tried to impeach Mayorkas but lost by just one vote.
The Tuesday’s re-run was also very close, but the return of Republican House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, made the impeachment possible with 214-213 vote.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said impeachment is perhaps the most serious authority given to the House and they have dealt this matter accordingly.
He noted that as the secretary was not doing his job properly so the House had to act.
However, Biden immediately rebuked Republicans and termed the act a blatant unconstitutional partisanship that has targeted an honorable public servant for petty political games.
He said his government will continue pursuing real solutions to the challenges Americans face.
The result is unprecedented as the House has only impeached one other cabinet official — Secretary of War William Belknap in 1876 over serious corruption allegations.