The Senate is currently facing a showdown over the articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Democrats are expected to move quickly to dismiss the articles, while Republicans insist on a full trial. The House transmitted the articles to the Senate, and senators are set to be sworn in as jurors. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has not specified the trial procedures but it is expected that the Senate may move to dismiss the case on a simple majority vote.
Despite the possibility of a dismissal, it is highly unlikely that the chamber will vote to convict as it would require a two-thirds majority vote. Senate Republicans are looking to reach a time agreement with Democrats to allow for floor debate and procedural votes. Mayorkas is the first Cabinet secretary to be impeached in almost 150 years, with House Republicans impeaching him over his handling of the southern border. Democrats have criticized the impeachment as a political stunt and argue that policy disagreements are not valid grounds for impeachment.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has stated that senators have a solemn responsibility to consider the impeachment articles and opposes any efforts to table them. Some hard-right Republican senators are trying to force a full trial, but their efforts are not expected to gain enough traction to pass. It remains uncertain if the Senate vote to dismiss will strictly adhere to party lines. Democrats in tough reelection races may face pressure over their vote regarding the dismissal or tabling of the articles.
Patty Murray, a Democrat from Washington, will oversee the proceedings in the Senate. Republicans targeted Mayorkas soon after taking control of the House, blaming him for high numbers of border crossings. However, constitutional experts have stated that the evidence for impeachment presented by Republicans does not meet the high bar set by the US Constitution. Mayorkas and DHS have pushed back against the impeachment efforts, calling them baseless political attacks. The White House has also criticized Republicans for blocking a bipartisan border deal earlier in the year.
After months of negotiations, Senate Republicans blocked a major bipartisan border deal that would have significantly changed immigration law and provided the president with more power to restrict illegal migrant crossings. The deal faced criticism from former President Donald Trump and top House Republicans. The Senate is now preparing for a potentially contentious debate over the impeachment of Mayorkas, with Democrats looking to dismiss the articles quickly while Republicans push for a full trial.
