House Republicans sent two articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to the Senate on Tuesday.
That will kick off a trial in the Senate over President Joe Biden’s immigration policy.
The big picture: The Democratic-controlled Senate is expected to quickly dismiss the charges without a trial or conduct a speedy trial without a conviction.
- Mayorkas is the first Cabinet secretary to be impeached in nearly 150 years, with House Republicans voting to impeach him over his handling of the southern border.
- Republicans have targeted Mayorkas as a way to criticize Biden and his administration’s handling of immigration and border security.
- Democratic senators, along with some Republicans, expect that the Senate will move to dismiss the case before a full trial.
What we’re watching: The White House is attempting to shift the focus to Republicans blocking a bipartisan border deal, suggesting that it shows the party’s lack of seriousness about border security.
- Questions remain over how the Senate trial will proceed, with possibilities including a motion to dismiss or table the articles, or a full trial.
- The Senate would need a two-thirds majority vote to convict Mayorkas.
