Impeachment of Alejandro Mayorkas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Impeachment of Alejandro Mayorkas |
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The House of Representatives votes to impeach Alejandro Mayorkas
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| Accused | Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of Homeland Security |
| Proponents | Mike Johnson (Speaker of the House of Representatives) |
| Date | February 13, 2024 – present (1 year, 4 months and 5 days) |
| Charges | Dereliction of duty, perjury, contempt of Congress |
| Cause | Mexico–United States border crisis |
| Congressional votes | |
| First vote in the U.S. House of Representatives | |
| Accusation | Failure to comply with Federal immigration laws and breaching the public trust |
| Votes in favor | 214 |
| Votes against | 216 |
| Present | 0 |
| Not voting | 1 |
| Result |  Failed |
| Second vote in the U.S. House of Representatives | |
| Accusation | Failure to comply with Federal immigration laws and breaching the public trust |
| Votes in favor | 214 |
| Votes against | 213 |
| Present | 0 |
| Not voting | 4 |
| Result |  Approved |
Impeachment is a process where a government official is accused of serious wrongdoing. If the House of Representatives votes to impeach someone, it means they are formally charged. The Senate then holds a trial to decide if the person should be removed from office.
On February 13, 2024, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to impeach Alejandro Mayorkas. He is the United States Secretary of Homeland Security. This means the House formally accused him of not doing his job well. They also accused him of not being truthful.
This was the second time the House voted on his impeachment. The first vote on February 6, 2024, did not pass. Mayorkas is the first Cabinet member to be impeached since 1876.
Contents
Why was Mayorkas Impeached?
Mayorkas's Role and Appointment
Alejandro Mayorkas was chosen by President Joe Biden to be the Secretary of Homeland Security. This happened in November 2020. The United States Senate approved his appointment in a close vote. He had worked in the government before. He was the Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security under a previous president.
Concerns from Lawmakers
Some members of the Republican Party were unhappy with how Mayorkas handled border issues. They believed he was not doing enough to control the border. Starting in 2021, some lawmakers tried to impeach him. These early attempts did not go very far.
In November 2023, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene tried again to impeach Mayorkas. She said he "failed to maintain operational control of the [Southern] border." This attempt also failed at first. The House decided to send her request to a special committee.
Understanding the Impeachment Charges
Article 1: Not Following Immigration Laws
The first official charge against Mayorkas was that he "willfully and systematically refused to comply with Federal immigration laws." This means he was accused of purposely not following certain laws. These laws are part of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952. This act says that people waiting for an Asylum decision should be held in custody.
Article 2: Breaking Public Trust
The second charge said Mayorkas "breached the public trust." This means he was accused of not being honest with Congress. He was also accused of making it hard for Congress to investigate his department. Congress wanted to look into how the Department of Homeland Security was working.
How the House Voted
First Vote: The Impeachment Fails
On February 6, 2024, the House of Representatives voted on whether to impeach Mayorkas. The vote was very close. There were 214 votes in favor of impeachment and 216 votes against it. This meant the impeachment did not pass.
Four Republican members voted against impeaching Mayorkas. One Republican leader, Steve Scalise, was not there because he was getting medical treatment. Another representative, Al Green, arrived late from surgery to cast his vote against impeachment. One Republican changed his vote at the last minute. This allowed the Republicans to try voting again later.
| Party | Yes | No | Not voting | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 214 | 4 | 1 | |
| Democratic | N/A | 212 | N/A | |
| Percentage | 49.8% | 50.2% | N/A | |
| Total votes | 214 | 216 |
1 | |
Second Vote: Impeachment Approved
After the first vote, Republicans decided to try again. They waited until more of their members could be present. On February 13, 2024, the House voted a second time. This time, the vote was 214 in favor and 213 against. This very close vote meant Mayorkas was officially impeached.
Three Republican members still voted against the impeachment. Four representatives were not present for this vote. Some missed it due to illness or travel delays.
| Party | Yes | No | Not voting | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 214 | 3 | 2 | |
| Democratic | N/A | 210 | 2 | |
| Percentage | 50.1% | 49.9% | N/A | |
| Total votes | 214 |
213 | 4 | |
What Happens Next: The Senate Trial
After the House impeaches an official, the process moves to the Senate. The Senate acts like a court. They hold a trial to decide if the impeached official should be removed from their job.
The Senate began its impeachment process for Mayorkas on April 16, 2024. A group of House members, called "impeachment managers," present the case against Mayorkas. The Senate will then vote on whether to convict him. Most people expect the Senate, which has a majority of Democrats, to not remove Mayorkas from office.
See also
