Republicans accuse Alejandro Mayorkas of provoking a crisis on the border between the United States and Mexico. The dismissal of the minister, however, remains largely unlikely, given the Democratic majority in the Senate.
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Powerstroke in the middle of the electoral campaign. Republicans in the US House of Representatives indicted Alejandro Mayorkas, President Joe Biden’s minister for immigration, on Tuesday February 13, accusing him of provoking a crisis on the border between the United States and Mexico.
The conservatives had already tried to indict him a week ago, but failed by a handful of votes. “He is the chief architect of the catastrophe”, accused Mike Johnson, the Republican leader of the House of Representatives. The main person concerned, Alejandro Mayorkas, criticized the Republicans for “wasting valuable time and taxpayers’ money.”
A sanction obtained by one vote
This is the first time in nearly 150 years that Congress has decided on such a sanction against a minister. But his dismissal remains largely unlikely, given the Democratic majority in the Senate. However, as the American Constitution specifies, the dismissal of a minister must be decided by both houses of Congress.
First, the House of Representatives votes, by a simple majority, on articles of indictment detailing the facts alleged against the minister: this is what is called “impeachment” in English and it is this vote which had took place Tuesday evening by 214 votes to 213. Then, the Senate, the upper house of Congress, will put the minister on trial. At the end of the debates, the 100 senators will vote on each article. A two-thirds majority is required to convict, in which case dismissal is automatic and without appeal. Otherwise, Alejandro Mayorkas will be acquitted.
Joe Biden quickly reacted, denouncing a “blatant act of politicking”. “Instead of organizing charades like this, Republicans who actually care about the border should ask Congress for more resources and stronger border security.”he castigated.