Democrats hoping for legislation to finally address the situation at the border are frustrated by House Republicans’ effort to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, warning that it’s at best a distraction, at worst imperiling chances of an actual deal.
The House Homeland Security Committee gathered Thursday for a second and final hearing on whether to impeach Mayorkas. Impeachment of a cabinet member is extremely uncommon. Only one presidential cabinet member has been impeached, and that was nearly 150 years ago: William Belknap, secretary of war under Ulysses S. Grant. But Republicans argue Mayorkas’ handling of the border warrants his removal — even as he plays a key role in negotiating what some lawmakers hope will be a major deal on immigration.
“The question is for Republicans, they gotta figure out is Secretary Mayorkas who they’re working in good faith with in these negotiations, or is he someone they’re going to impeach?” Sen. Alex Padilla, a California Democrat, said Thursday.